Spanish giants Real Madrid deservedly reached their fourth Al Kass International Cup final, but they needed a penalty shoot-out to end the hopes of tournament debutants Mohammed VI Academy.
Real dominated the game and should have won inside 90 minutes but they found Mohammed keeper Walid Hasbi in inspired form.
David Pecellin (Pece). was causing problems down the left and he produced two quality crosses in as many minutes, the second of which produced the opening goal of the game.
He found Abraham Nobrega, who saw his effort well saved by Hasbi, but on their next attack Real finally made the breakthrough. Pece again got past his man and found Mario who fired home with a low drive.
Mario, who had only been on the pitch for eight minutes, became Real’s ninth different goalscorer of the tournament.
Mohammed had enjoyed a much better second half though and they stunned Real with an equaliser on 88 minutes when Oussame Lyakoubi swept in a deep cross and Salah Cheffani rose well to head home. It was Mohammed VI Academy Mohammed’s first shot on target but as they game moved towards a penalty shoot-out the Moroccans were reduced to 10 men Khalifi was sent off for a reckless thigh-high challenge on Marc Cucalon.
Guillermo Sunico was in fine form for Real in the shoot-out, keeping out Aqboub’s opening penalty for Mohammed VI Academy and then saving from Cheffani but being deemed to have left his line and the referee demanded a retake. Real scored from all five of their spot-kicks to take the honours with Mario – who thought he was going to be the hero in 90 minutes – smashing home the match-winning penalty.
