al sadd defy the odds
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Al Sadd defy the odds

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Al Sadd defy the odds

London - Arabstoday

Al Sadd’s convoluted journey to be crowned Asian kings continued until the very end of their campaign. It took almost three hours for the Doha club to claim a dramatic victory over Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors after extra time and a penalty shoot-out, with Nadir Belhadj converting the decisive spot-kick for the Qataris in a pulsating final of the AFC Champions League on Saturday. The win was the first by a west Asian side since 2005 and ensured the club\'s first participation in the FIFA Club World Cup next month. It was even more dramatic because Jorge Fossati’s men appeared physically and mentally depleted after letting the lead slip, with substitute Lee Sung-Hyun’s equaliser two minutes into second-half stoppage time in Jeonju. The visitors had come from behind after Eninho’s opener on 19 minutes, to take a 2-1 lead through an own goal on the half hour mark by Sim Woo-Yeon, and then a superbly executed volley from Abdul Kader Keita in the second half. “I could not imagine that it would go to penalties,” Fossati said in the press conference after the match. “I was really worried especially when it went to extra time because our physical condition to play this game was not the same as normal. We’d only arrived here two days ago after a long flight and then had to adapt to a six-hour time difference.” Aside from the physical challenge, the Qataris also had to deal with the intimidating atmosphere created by a vibrant 41,805 strong crowd inside the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, where the Motors had won all of the six matches en route to the final. Al Sadd could nevertheless take heart from an unlikely victory in their most recent visit to Korea Republic last month, when they beat Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-0 in the semi-final first leg, in a match staged in a similarly unreceptive environment. “I was worried that our players could not finish the game for this reason, but the players fought not only with their bodies but their hearts,” added Fossati, as the former Uruguay and Qatar coach struggled to hold his emotions. “That’s why we could win on penalties.” Saqr’s goalkeeping heroics Although the centre-back duo of Lee Jung-Soo and captain Abdulla Koni were at the core of the Qataris’ stubborn rearguard, arguably the most valuable player of the night was goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr, who made a series of fine saves throughout 120 minutes before blocking two penalties in the shoot-out. “He played fantastic today but it was not the only game that he has been fantastic in this competition,” said Fossati. “Today he had a big game. The Jeonbuk players did not miss the penalties but he saved them. He also made two or three very important saves, and the one at the end was extraordinary.” The crucial moment he referred to was in the fourth minute of added time. With the match tied at 2-2 after Lee headed home the equaliser, the Motors went all out in search of a last-gasp winner. Park Won-Jae sent an in-swinging cross from the left for Jeong Shung-Hoon, who let the ball run through to an onrushing Kim Dong-Chan. But just as the unmarked forward chested the ball down on the right side of the goalmouth, Saqr came to the rescue by parrying it away from danger. For all those heroic saves, Al Sadd’s epic win could not have been complete without Keita, who forced the own goal with a dangerous cross in the first half, before then putting his side ahead with a brilliant volley just after the hour mark. It was only the second goal of the competition from the Côte d’Ivoire international, but one which will still with him forever. “I’m very happy because it’s the first time for me [to have a hand in] two goals, although the first one was deflected by a defender,” Keita told FIFA.com after the match. “I know my family, my wife, my son, and everyone in my country would be happy about this, and I want to think about this final every time because it’s very important for me to score the goal.”

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

al sadd defy the odds al sadd defy the odds

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

al sadd defy the odds al sadd defy the odds

 



GMT 09:54 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

'Friendly and kind' N. Korean skaters

GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 04:33 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

Penelope to play Versace

GMT 11:26 2017 Friday ,03 February

Member of criticizes Egypt’s government

GMT 07:23 2017 Wednesday ,23 August

Hot, humid weather on Wednesday

GMT 19:56 2017 Monday ,18 September

Hail lashes parts of UAE, dust warnings issued

GMT 09:40 2017 Saturday ,30 December

UAE cancels Tunisia handball games amid row

GMT 11:40 2017 Tuesday ,17 October

Al Naqash confident of his team’s ability

GMT 14:41 2017 Saturday ,27 May

Spaniard Casado storms

GMT 07:57 2011 Monday ,19 September

Last 4 clubs set in African Champions League

GMT 04:11 2012 Thursday ,15 March

History to air auction show \'Sold!\'

GMT 19:40 2011 Thursday ,29 September

Arab American comedians unwind at New York festival

GMT 18:23 2017 Wednesday ,15 March

Williams Stays Ahead in Unchanged WTA Top 10

GMT 23:26 2015 Sunday ,22 February

Egyptian concert to be held in Austria
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice