Doha: A superb volley from substitute Ishmail Baidoo helped Aspire International to stun Real Madrid 3-2 in the opening Group B match of the Al Kass International Cup here yesterday.
Real Madrid found their rhythm early in the game, and went ahead within 16 minutes after a superb flowing move.
Midfielder Alvaro Martin picked up a sublime sideways pass from team-mate Gregorio Tereul just inside the penalty box, before controlling and finishing expertly past Aspire goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
The lead was not to last long however and, 12 minutes later, the scores were level after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Aspire International attacker Orgeness Mollel.
The spot kick offered a chance for Zinedine Zidane’s son Luca, playing in goal for the Under-16 Madrid team, to emulate the heroics his father was famed for. Sadly for the youngster, the well-placed strike of Silas Gnaka proved too much to handle and Aspire were back on even terms.
From this point on the Qatar team began to settle into the game.
Pacy and pressing high up the pitch, Aspire International’s midfield looked dominant as they sought to take the lead for the first time.
However, in the game’s 40th minute, a bullet header from Madrid defender Jose Manuel Riol propelled the Spanish side back into the lead, totally against the run of play.
As the second half began, Aspire quickly reasserted their earlier dominance, putting favourites Real on the back foot in an increasingly feisty contest.
The young Real Madrid side were hanging on, but in the 72nd minute the Qatar-based team were finally able to make their possessional advantage pay when a defensive mistake led to Aspire’s Issa Traore getting hold of the ball just inside the Madrid box before deftly dribbling round Zidane to score.
As the game reached its closing stages, Aspire International continued to press forward as Real Madrid began to run out of energy.
Sergine Mbacke Dia, Aspire Head Coach, loudly encouraged his side to keep moving as Real Madrid brought on defender Javier Brea in an attempt to steady things at the back.
But the substitution did little to stem Aspire’s dominance and, in the 85th minute, they struck a post and had a penalty shout turned down 30 seconds later as they continued to search relentlessly for a winner.
A minute later they were finally awarded for their efforts. Surely the goal of the day, Aspire sent a stunning ball from midfield which landed perfectly in the path of Ishmael Baidoo.
The midfielder’s controlled volley was so finely weighted that not even the diving save of Luca Zidane could keep it out.
Celebrating, Baidoo ran to the corner flag, fell to his knees and was then pounced upon by his team-mates - a fine way to end a game so full of action, and one which highlighted the dramatic progress achieved in recent years by Aspire’s young teams.
The Peninsula
