Latest news with #Sadd
Qatar Living
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Living
Al Sadd lift fourth Qatar Cup title with thrilling win over Al Duhail
Reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd clinched their second trophy of the season — the Qatar Cup — after edging arch-enemies Al Duhail 3-2 in a thrilling penalty shoot-out at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday. The two teams had been tied 2-2 at the end of regular time before Sadd went on to clinch their fourth Qatar Cup title in history. Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners and handed over the coveted trophy to Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos. Goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, brother of decorated high-jumper and reigning Olympic champion Mutaz Essa Barsham, proved to be the hero of the night. He produced two crucial saves in the shootout, diving to his left and then right, to gift the Wolves the title. Al Haydos, Akram Afif, Rafa Mujica, and Claudinho converted their spot-kicks for Al Sadd while Pedro Miguel missed. Meanwhile, Almoez Ali, Edmilson Jr, and Benjamin Bourigeaud were on target for Al Duhail, with Michael Olunga and Karim Boudiaf being denied by Barsham. Duhail started the game strongly, putting Sadd under pressure. Barsham stood as a strong wall, but the Red Knights broke the deadlock in the 49th minute when Olunga headed home from a corner. Sadd equalised in the 63rd, through a penalty, after Pedro Miguel was brought down during a corner. Claudinho calmly converted to make it 1-1. However, just three minutes later, Duhail regained the upper hand through Bourigeaud. In the 86th, Mujica rose high to head home Sadd's equaliser. The game went into extra time and then penalty shootouts. Al Sadd made the most of the home advantage to emerge as champions. It was Al Sadd's fourth Qatar Cup title, after winning it in 2017, 2020, and 2021. Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez praised his players for the tough win. 'We played a strong match against a strong team. We were behind twice and came back. I think we deserved the title. It was an enjoyable match for everyone. It went to penalties, and I'm really happy with the players, their performance, and their comeback,' he said. He was all praise for goalkeeper Barsham. 'Barsham was a star. We said if it went to penalties, he would help us and he did. He did it with the national team, and now again with Al Sadd,' Sanchez, who trained Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, said. --- Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content. Instagram - @qatarliving X - @qatarliving Facebook - Qatar Living YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Sadd, Al Gharafa seal Amir Cup quarter-final places
Tribune News Network Doha Defending champions Al Sadd rallied from an early deficit to claim a convincing 3-1 victory over second-division side Al Kharaitiyat in the Round of 16 clash of the Amir Cup at Al Thumama on Tuesday. The win secures Sadd a place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Al Gharafa, who advanced after eliminating Al Khor. Kharaitiyat stunned the reigning champions early when Sulaiman An opened the scoring in the 13th minute. However, Sadd responded through Giovanni Henrique, who netted the equaliser in the 23rd minute to restore parity before the break. In the second half, Sadd took control. Spanish forward Rafael Mujica gave them the lead in the 54th minute, and just two minutes later, Giovanni bagged his second of the night to put the result beyond doubt. Akram Afif delivered a standout performance, providing two key assists and tormenting the Al Kharaitiyat defence throughout. Al Gharafa edge Al Khor Earlier, Al Gharafa sealed their place in the quarters with a 2-1 win over Al Khor at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The Cheetahs took the lead through Spanish striker Joselu in the 20th minute after a precise cross from Rodrigo Mourinho found him inside the box. Joselu made no mistake, slotting the ball into the net to give Al-Gharafa a deserved advantage following early pressure. Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Gharafa were unable to extend their lead before halftime. Al Khor nearly equalised in the 35th minute when Sofiane Hanni's curling effort went narrowly wide. Al Khor continued their pursuit of an equaliser after the break, with Ricardo Gomez firing just wide in the 52nd minute. But it was Gharafa who struck again. In the 63rd minute, Yacine Brahimi delivered a pinpoint cross into the area, which Ahmed al-Janahi finished clinically to double the lead. Al Khor responded with a wave of attacks and managed to pull one back in the 75th minute. Abdulaziz Hazaa fired a powerful strike from the edge of the area that beat goalkeeper Claude Amin, making it 2-1 and setting up a tense final 15 minutes. Gharafa, however, held firm to secure the victory and will now face Al Sadd in the quarters. Following the match, Iceland midfielder Aron Gunnarsson was pleased with the result, saying: 'The match wasn't as easy as we expected. Al Khor kept pushing until the end. We gave everything to win and advance, and we're determined to fight for the title and make our fans proud.'
The National
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The National
‘We are not afraid of them': Kawasaki Frontale ready for Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr in AFC Champions League
The last side left standing in the AFC Champions League Elite who are not from Saudi Arabia insist they can upset the party as the tournament reaches its finale in Jeddah. The prospect of playing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Marcelo Brozovic might be a daunting enough challenge. Then there is the fact they are having to shoulder the burden of carrying the hopes of the whole of the eastern side of Asia. On top of that, Kawasaki Frontale have had one less day to prepare for Wednesday night's semi-final against Al Nassr. The short turnaround has been further exacerbated by the fact they required extra-time to beat Qatar's Al Sadd in their quarter-final on Sunday. If the opening round of matches are any sort of a guide, then few would give Kawasaki a chance. While they battled past Sadd, the star-studded Saudi sides crushed everything in their wake in their last-eight fixtures. Al Hilal beat Gwangju 7-0, Al Ahli won 3-0 against Buriram United, while Nassr cruised into their game against Kawasaki by beating fellow J League side Yokohama F Marinos 4-1. Such dominance is understandable given the outlay the Saudi league has been making on players, according to Shigetoshi Hasebe, the Kawasaki coach. 'If you look at the results, that tells everything,' Hasebe said. 'This country has invested a lot in football. That is why three teams have been in the semi-final. 'But we are playing football, and nobody know what is going to happen. Many people think the teams from Saudi will win, but I want to break that image tomorrow night.' Hasebe said his side will be focused solely on themselves rather than the idea they are representing the whole of the East Asia conference. Teams from that side of the continent have traditionally dominated Asia's top competition. Since 2006, Al Ain, Hilal and Sadd are the only three West Asia clubs to have won the Champions League. And yet the balance has shifted since world stars started to flood into the Saudi league around two years ago. 'It is hard to pick a specific name; all 11 players in their starting line up are key players,' Hasebe said of Nassr. 'They play especially well in attack, but in defence I can see some chances. We are a representative from East Asia, but also, we are just a club. 'We cannot have that kind of responsibility on us, as the representative from the eastern side [of the continent]. We are just focused on trying to win, that is all we can do tomorrow.' Kento Tachibanada, the Kawasaki midfielder, said his team will not be thinking about the names in the opposition line up once the game kicks off. 'Yes, we are the only club left from East Asia, but the winner of this competition can only be one club,' Tachibanada said. 'We are playing to go to the final and to win this title. The key point is not to be afraid of the famous players and the big names. They have many talented players.' Stefano Pioli, Nassr's Italian manager, said his side are not underestimating the side from Japan. 'We are very confident in our team, we trust them and we are ready to make the final,' Pioli said. 'Our opposition are very organised, they have fast players who like to pass the ball, and they have a good line up. But we are prepared for them. 'I think the match will be tough because all the teams who have reached this stage deserve to be in the semi-finals. It is going to be a very challenging match. We are ready for the challenge.'
