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Al Rayyan are HH the Emir's Cup champs
AL RAYYAN broke the dominance of two prominent clubs in the country - Al Sadd and Qatar Sports Club - to win the coveted HH the Emir's Cup Football Championships overcoming 10-men Qatar Club 3-2 in the final at the Al Ittehad Stadium yesterday.
A brace from Nasser Kamil and a goal from former Spanish international Fernando Hierro saw them cruise through under humid conditions.
Rayyan, who had shocked Qatar League champions Al Sadd in the semi-finals, had the first shot at the goal in the very second minute when Hierro failed to connect properly a Mario Basler corner as the ball rolled into the hands of Qatar custodian Hussein al-Romaihi.
Then on, Qatar mounted pressure and it paid dividends with former Argentine international Claudio Caniggia and Angolan striker Fabrice Akwa making some beautiful moves.
In the 13th minute, Qatar captain Abdulaziz Hassan gave a cross from the middle to Akwa at the right of the area but the latter's header was deflected by Rayyan goalkeeper Salman al-Ansari. The ball landed in front of Meshaal Mubarak but his shot was off the mark.
Four minutes later, the Caniggia-Akwa combination bore fruits when Akwa volleyed a long ball from the Argentine as a bicycle kick which stormed into the right corner leaving al-Anwari stranded.
In the 30th minute, Akwa got a lob from Saeed Chiba at the right corner of the citadel and before al-Ansari could reach the ball, Akwa headed the ball in to double his side's advantage.
Three minute later, Rayyan reduced the margin when Basler's powerful freekick from about 35 metres went straight to Qatar goalkeeper al-Romaihi but the latter failed to pouch the ball cleanly and on a rebound, Nasser Kamil headed low-lying into the left corner of the net.
Two minutes into the restart, Kamil initiated a move from the left as the ball changed many hands before reaching to Hierro on top of the box. The Spaniards scorcher bulged the left corner of the net to level the scores 2-2.
Qatar suffered a setback when Caniggia was redcarded in the 55th minute for arguing with the referee over a freekick awarded to Rayyan. This left the Qatar forwardline rudderless. With only Akwa doing all the leg work, the Heir Apparent's Cup champs had little chances.
Rayyan, however, took full advantage of the situation and kept the ball in the Qatar half for the rest of the game. Rayyan's Algerian signing Ali Benerbia, who had played for English Premiership club Manchester City, set up the match-winner as his cross from the right landed in front of Kamil, whose left-footer found the right corner of the net in the 85th minute.
Three minutes later, Rayyan got a clear chance when their Moroccan professional Busheib al-Mubaraki had to beat al-Romaihi only but his lob went over the bar.
Qatar coach Dzemaludin Musovic blamed the defeat on Caniggia redcard. "That changed the course of the game. Had he been around, we could have kept up the pressure," he said.
An elated Rayyan coach Georgin Larsen Eric gave credit to the players. "They executed the plan to perfection. The match was very tough but I am happy that we proved ourselves at the end," he added.
HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani gave away the prizes. HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani and former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright were also present on the occasion.
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