Action from the Al Kass Cup match between Kashiwa Reysol and Real Madrid at Aspire Academy yesterday.
Doha: Kashiwa Reysol delivered an outstanding display of fortitude and tactical brilliance to overcome strong favourites Real Madrid and advance to the Al Kass 2018 semi-finals.
Repeating a pattern established in their previous games, Reysol defended stoutly throughout and sought to hit their opponents on the counterattack, while absorbing continual pressure from a highly accomplished Madrid side who created enough chances to win several matches.
The Madridistas were in command from the first whistle and, just three minutes in, were almost in front when Alvaro De Frias collected the ball in a central area just outside the box and curled a delicious left-footed strike that looked destined for the top corner, only for Reysol keeper Leo Kokubo to make an athletic save, diving to tip the ball over the bar.
The chance was indicative of Madrid’s early dominance, with De Frias – playing ‘in the hole’ behind strike partner Juan Latasa – pulling the strings.
But on eight minutes, Kashiwa – as they have done so often in the past at Al Kass – ripped up the formbook, with Mao Hosoya capitalising on a goalmouth scramble to fire the Japanese into an unexpected lead.
It was a lead they held for just one minute because, with the very next attack, Real were level.
Jorge Camunas picked the ball up midway inside Reysol’s half, and advanced unchallenged before shooting hard and low past Kokubo from the edge of the area.
Sohki Tamura got on the ball midway inside Real’s half, dashing forward before feeding Hosoya, who made no mistake from six yards out.
Kashiwa will now play the highly fancied Benfica on Monday evening in a clash that seems certain to enthral the Aspire crowd.
And, based on their track record, the formidable Japanese side will firmly believe they are capable of delivering yet another upset.
