Al Sadd players celebrate with their fans, after beating Al Rayyan 3-1 in the Heir Apparent Cup semi-final at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. Maged Ibrahim, Khalfan Ibrahim and Younes Mahmoud scored the goals for the newly-crowned Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Qatar Stars League (QSL) winners Al Sadd yesterday crushed defending champions Al Rayyan 3-1 to reach the final of the Heir Apparent Cup with a dominating performance on home soil.
Maged Ibrahim (27), Khalfan Ibrahim (31) and Younes Mahmood (48), helped the five-time champions to a commanding victory over Diego Aguirre’s side which was blunted by the home team’s stout defending in the second half.
For last year’s champions, an own goal by Al Sadd’s Mohammed Kasola reduced the margin of defeat at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
In the final on May 4, Al Sadd will take on Lekhwiya who beat Eljaish 2-1 in the second semi-final at the same venue.
Korea’s Nam Tae-Hee emerged as the match-winner for Lekhwiya with a late goal in the second half after both sides were tied at one goal apiece.
Tae-Hee flicked one from close range for a field goal in the 88th minute.
Lekhwiya’s first goal was scored by Luis Martin Jr, who scored in the 9th minute with a long-range shot.
For Eljaish, the only goal was scored courtesy of an own goal by Lekhwiya’s Dame Traore in just the second minute of the match.
Al Sadd camp was delirious after their 3-1 win.
“Thank God for this great win. It is a very important win for us,” Mahmoud, the Al Sadd forward, said after the match.
“The fans were expecting a great performance and I hope this (win) makes them happy,” the Iraqi said.
Al Sadd coach Hussain Amute said: “Al Rayyan had put pressure on us but our defence was great. Our goalkeeper did well today. That’s how we blocked their attacks. We were cautious at the start but we remained active on the pitch. We put in great efforts. I am happy about it.”
Aguirre, presenting a glum look at the post-match press conference, said: “At the start of the match we had the match under control. But I can’t blame anyone for the loss. All the players tried their best.”
In the fourth minute, Al Sadd’s Nadir Belhadj chipped one to striker Mahmoud who deflected the ball from close range on to the arm of an Al Rayyan defender but referee Bangar Al Dosari ignored the pleas for a penalty.
Three minutes later, Daniel Goumo of Al Rayyan found striker Rodrigo Tabata inside the box but Al Sadd’s Al Kasola averted the threat with a slick piece of defending by jumping higher than the Brazilian striker.
In the 24th minute, Al Rayyan nearly pulled off a spectacular goal.
Tabata curled in a direct free-kick but the ball was parried away by Al Sadd goalkeeper Sadd Abdulah Al Sheeb who put in the dive to slap the ball away.
Three minutes later, Al Sadd took the lead through Maged who fired a long-range bullet off an indirect free-kick.
The Al Rayyan wall was the guilty party as the visitors allowed a yawning gap in their defense line. The ball dipped on goalkeeper Omar Barry who let the ball slip through his hand.
Four minutes later, Ibrahim produced what many would consider the goal of the season.
Ibrahim picked up the ball from 15 feet inside his own half-way line but then sped away with bristling speed as he dodged five Al Rayyan players to reach the edge of the box.
Al Rayyan’s Yong Hyung Cho and Alvaro Fernandes swooped on the diminutive striker who outpaced his chasers and then smartly clipped the ball past Barry who saw the ball fly past his right and into the back of the net.
Nine minutes from the end of the first half, Al Rayyan defender Abdul Kareem Ali received a yellow card for bringing down Ibrahim.
Four minutes from the first half whistle, Al Rayyan’s Brazilian striker Nilmar produced a snap-header which narrowly missed the target from close range.
Three minutes into the second half, Al Sadd found the net for the third time with a slick dive by Mahmoud.
The 2007 Asian Cup winner dived forward to meet a corner kick curled in by Belhadj. The deflection went to the right of goalkeeper Barry who endured a forgetful night.
Al Rayyan defender Ali helped the visitors get a goal courtesy clumsy defending by Kasola.
Ali chipped in a cross for Nilmar but Kasola’s lunge to stop the shot sent the ball crashing into the net in the 57th minute.
Al Rayyan mounted a series of attacks in the second half, suggesting a comeback win but Al Sadd’s Kasola remained firm to stop the visitors from scoring more goals.
Al Rayyan defender Musa Haroon said: “The first goal put pressure on us and the second (from Al Sadd) added more pressure. We could have reversed the result but could not do it. Hopefully we will do a better job in the Emir Cup (next month).”
Eljaish coach Razvan Lucescu said his team failed to convert their chances.
He said: “We had chances to score but we didn’t. Lekhwiya had one chance in the first half and they scored.”
He added: “We deserved to win. We controlled the ball and the game better. There was more pressure through the free-kicks. Then, came the moment when they (Lekhwiya scored the winner).” THE PENINSULA
