Action from the quarter-final match of the Al Kass Cup International football tournament for Under-17 teams at Aspire zone on Thursday.
Spanish giants Real Madrid will take on Eintracht Frankfurt of Germany while Aspire Academy will meet Red Bull Salzburg of Austria in today’s semi-finals of the Al Kass Cup International Under-17 football tournament at Aspire Zone.
In Friday’s last quarter-final match, Real Madrid prevailed over Kashiwa Reysol to seal a semi-final place, following a gripping contest that ended in a penalty shootout.
Yet, for all the drama, the game boiled down to a tale of two – or perhaps three – keepers. Reysol manager Ken Iwase took the crucial decision to drop Tomo Chiwata in favour of Leo Kokubo, despite the former’s man of the match heroics during the Japanese side’s previous game against Red Bull Salzburg. Kokubo looked uncertain on a number of occasions, while his opposite number, Diego Suarez, became the hero of the hour as he saved the last penalty to ensure Real went through.
However, when Madrid took the lead following another Perez delivery, no touch whatsoever was needed as the ball bounced high over the keeper and into the top corner.
The teams went in for half time with Real preserving their 1-0 lead.
Kashiwa were in need of some inspiration, and after the break came out of their shells in admirable fashion. However, in venturing further upfield in search of an equaliser, the gaps left at the back allowed Real to claim their second. Pérez was once again on target, as he dribbled his way into the box and drove a powerful effort low into the net. The Spaniards appeared to have run Reysol into the ground, and all hope of the Japanese side clawing their way back into the game.
However, just when the game seemed won, an overconfident Madrid defence suffered a momentary lapse in concentration. A Carrero pass caught Benjamin Garay off guard.
The ball bumbled off the defender allowing Kaito Mori to snatch possession, drive into the area and put his side back in the running. With Real suddenly in total disarray, Kashiwa looked to capitalise. The Japanese side had nothing to lose, and at 2-1 put all their efforts into searching for an equaliser.
The clock ticked down, and when fourth official Mohammed Medhat raised the board signalling four minutes of added time it looked all too late. But Real were on the ropes and clinging onto their lead by a thread, so Reysol were still in with a chance. Shots from all angles tested keeper Suarez, and with manager Iwase becoming increasingly animated on the sidelines, his side’s grit and determination eventually earned them an equaliser.
A hopeful corner was sent into the area, and as Suarez missed his punch Mori headed into an empty net before collapsing at the corner flag under a pile of ecstatic team mates. Takumi Onodera and Yudai Yamashita failed for the Japanese side, with Suarez saving the decisive effort to guide his team home.
Meanwhile, Associação Chapecoense lost 2-1 to Raja Casablanca in the friendly match played on the sidelines of the Al Kass Cup.
The Brazilian club and Syrian Dream are not participating in the tournament, but Al KassCup organisers has given the teams the opportunity to compete against teams who have been knocked out of the U-17 championship.
