Al Duhail win Amir Cup

Doha: Qatar football giants Al Duhail last night edged Al Rayyan 2-1 in a feisty contest to win the Amir Cup at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani gave away the winner’s trophy to Al Duhail skipper Karim Boudiaf and coach Djamel Belmadi at the presentation ceremony that took place immediately after the pulsating battle under lights. 

QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani and QFA Vice-President Saud Al Mohanadi were also present.

Watched by 45,764 spectators including the FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Al Duhail completed a trophy treble after Boudiaf (34) and Youssef El Arabi (81) produced the goals that mattered in the tense final at the iconic venue.

For Al Rayyan, their only goal was scored by veteran forward Sebastian Soria who headed home from close range in the 69th minute.

It was the third trophy triumph for  Belmadi’s side that also won the QNB Stars League and the Qatar Cup in March and April respectively.

“We are very happy with the victory as it was a tough final,” Lucas Mendes, Al Duhail’s left-back, said after the match.

“Al Duhail have worked very hard to complete the treble and now we look forward to clinch the AFC Champions League. We have taken the club to a whole new level. Sorry Al Rayyan, but we are the best in Qatar,” he added.

Team Director Adnan Al Ali said: “It’s been a very good season for Al Duhail. Al Rayyan fought well in the final and we are very happy to finish the domestic season with the Amir Cup title. Now we will focus to win the Asian Champions League.”

Al Duhail enjoyed the upper hand right from the kick-off, weaving different patterns of attacks on the pitch to create space in the heart of the Al Rayyan defense. Belmadi’s side used the long balls to create confusion in the Al Rayyan camp with Mendes creating a sense of uncertainly with his aerial crosses.

Al Duhail had more accuracy in both the aerial sorties and ground passes with Al Rayyan missing on the accuracy factor.

Besides enjoying more ball possession the first half, coach Belmadi’s side forced six flag kicks in contrast to Al Rayyan’s two.

Al Duhail kicked off proceedings dictating terms with Al Rayyan only able to produce the occasional threatening move.

In the first 10 minutes, Al Duhail came close twice to breaking open the rival team’s defense. On the first occasion, Sultan Al Brake, one of the two Under-23 players to take the field for Al Duhail, saw his well measured cross being stopped by Al Rayyan keeper Barry.

Al Rayyan, after playing second fiddle for most part of the proceedings, came with the occasional forays. In the 20th minute, Al Rayyan striker Soria tried to beat the rival keeper with a back heel placement but could not connect making a mess of the cross essayed by team-mate Mohsine Moulaouali.

Soria, 34, was again in the thick of action three minutes later, when he failed to beat the rival keeper from close range.

Al Duhail’s first goal, however, did not come about from a deadball situation.

Boudiaf, who was fulcrum of the Al Duhail attacks, latched on a loose ball which came via a clearance from the Al Duhail player and after beating his marker with a couple of quick body feints, he unleashed a powerful shot that beat Al Rayyan keeper Barry in the 34th minute.

Al Rayyan midfielder Rodrigo Tabata, who was well policed by the Al Duhail defense for most part of the final, got himself in the thick of action soon afterward.

Presented with a lot of space and a clear look at the goal, Tabata unfurled a long ranger but Al Duhail’s lanky keeper Amin tipped the ball over for the second flag kick in favour of Al Rayyan.

Al Duhail almost doubled the lead a minute from the first goal but Korean striker Nam Tae-hee. The Korean forward weaved past a host of defenders deep inside the rival defense, but his placement from close range missed the target.

In the second half, Al Rayyan began on a promising note when Tabata curled in a near-perfect free-kick but Al Duhail keeper Amin positioned himself well to palm the ball away. The hardworking Tabata continued to trouble the Al Duhail defense as Al Rayyan produced the equaliser in the 69th minute.

The 37-year-ol Al Rayyan captain latched on a loose ball on the right flank to essay a gentle floater which eluded the leaping Al Duhail keeper. An unmarked Soria made no mistake to head home with a snap-header much to the roar of the Al Rayyan supporters.

Buoyed by a goal, Al Rayyan almost doubled their lead with Soria-Tabata combination missing the target from close range.

Despite the attacks, Al Rayyan’s equaliser lasted a mere five minutes.

Al Duhail had the last laugh in the 81st minute when El Arabi got himself in a perfect position to finish off a break move, connecting a square pass from Mohammed Moosa Ali.