Sun, Dec 01, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 29, 1446 | DXB ktweather icon0°C

Qatar secure place in Gulf Cup final

Top Stories

Super-sub Ali Assadalla scores twice in 3-1 victory over Oman.

Published: Mon 24 Nov 2014, 11:46 AM

Updated: Wed 11 Jan 2023, 10:36 AM

  • By
  • Alex Leach (senior Reporter)

Qatar’s Ali Assadalla gets ahead of Oman players Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali and Ahmed Kano during the semifinal at the King Fahad Stadium in Riyadh on Sunday. AFP

Riyadh — Super-sub Ali Assadalla’s second-half brace propelled Qatar into the Gulf Cup final as they came back from behind to defeat Oman 3-1 here on Sunday evening.

Raed Saleh’s initial wonderstrike was cancelled out by Hassan Khalid’s penalty at the King Fahd International Stadium, where Assadalla settled the outcome with a quickfire double within eight minutes of his introduction.

A pre-match downpour gave the distinct impression that there may well be goals in this first semi-final clash, particularly for Oman after their 5-0 thrashing of Kuwait in their previous outing.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between though in the opening quarter, which was perhaps unsurprisingly given what was at stake for the two teams.

Le Guen’s men looked the more dangerous from open play nevertheless, particularly down the flanks, and they deservedly took the lead after 24 minutes.

Ali Busaidi’s left-sided free-kick was headed up – but not away – by Qatar’s Meshaal Abdulla and the ball fell invitingly for Saleh. His first-time, sweetly-struck volley gave goalkeeper Qasem Burhan absolutely no chance of a save either as his clean hit found the top left-hand corner.

Oman then had a great chance to make it 2-0 just past the half hour mark as some neat interplay on the edge of the Qataris’ penalty area saw Abdulaziz Al Muqbali played in. However, with only Burhan to beat, he inexplicably dallied in possession and wastefully chipped a woeful effort over the crossbar.

Such gilt-edged opportunities shouldn’t be passed up in international football and, after Abdelaziz Hatem had a rising drive well held by Ali Al Habsi, Al Muqbali was made to pay for his profligacy.

Ismaeel Mohammad put in a right-wing centre for Abdulla to contest with Al Habsi at the near post.

Abdulla got there first, Al Habsi caught his trailing left leg on the stretch and Polish referee Marcin Borski duly pointed to the spot.

Khalid strode up to the resultant penalty and coolly sent it straight down the middle to restore parity before the half-time break.

Qatar’s equaliser presumably would have made Djamel Belmadi’s team-talk at the interval an easier exchange and they thought they’d gone in front moments after the restart. Mohammad got in behind the Oman defence and slotted confidently past Al Habsi, only for Borski’s assistant on the far side to correctly curtail his celebrations by flagging him offside.

Mohammad did have a considerable hand in the legitimate goal that put Qatar ahead however on the hour.

Another buccaneering run down the right and a neat give-and-go gave him a sight of Al Habsi’s goal.

His low, angled attempt bounced back off the far post and straight to Ahmed Kano, who cleared straight to Assadalla. His follow-up shot deflected off Eid Mohammad, over Al Habsi and into the net.

Seven minutes later, it was game over as Assadalla scored his second and Qatar’s third of the night.

Abdulla’s drive ricocheted back off the near post and Assadalla’s miss-hit follow-up into the ground bobbled up and fortuitously cleared a backtracking Busaidi on the goal-line.

alex@khaleejtimes.com



Next Story