By Suman Malla
Doha: League champions Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan have promised attacking football free from their normal burden of expectation when the two heavyweights collide in the Emir’s Cup final this evening. The match kicks off at 7pm at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Despite being forced to endure 120 minutes and nerve-wracking penalties in the semi-finals, both sides insist they still have the energy to produce a classic match befitting the occasion.
Both have produced some memorable performances en route to the final. Al Gharafa, gunning for a double, overcame Al Khor 4-2 in the quarter-finals before getting the better of Al Sadd 7-6 in sudden death shoot out in the semi-finals to break a 2-2 deadlock.
At the other end of draw, Al Rayyan put off an Al Wakrah challenge 3-1 to set up meeting with Qatar Sports Club in the semi-finals. They exacted their revenge on Qatar SC for the loss in the Heir Apparent’s Cup final with a 4-2 win on penalties after they were tied at 3-3.
Having been prevented by Umm Salal in last year’s final, Al Gharafa coach Marcos Paqueta considers the Emir’s Cup final as the most important game of the season for his club.
“That’s what I told my players,” said the Brazilian. “After we beat Al Sadd I told them if you play like you did in the semi-final you have a good chance of winning the trophy.”
The Brazilian is pleased his players have come out unscathed from a draining semi-final win over the 13 times Emir’s Cup champions Al Sadd.
“Thankfully we enter the final without any injury concern,” said Paqueta, explaining how Al Gharafa showed their resolve despite a busy schedule, with the side having already played 40 games this season.
He now believes they have enough strength in depth to make amends for last year’s Cup disappointment. “Al Rayyan are a strong side with a number of skillful players in their ranks. But it’s a big opportunity for us and the important thing is how we respond to the challenge. I am sure we can do it by playing a positive game,” he said.
Team captain Saad al-Shammari and key midfielder Othman El Assad echo their coach’s thoughts. “The Emir’s Cup final has always brought the best out of teams and it won’t be any different this time around. After a day’s rest we are fully prepared for the showdown,” al-Shammari said.
Moroccan El Assad added: “We’ve proved ourselves as the number one team in the league for the second time in as many seasons. And we’re keen to cap that with a victory in the final tomorrow.” Al Rayyan have made a steady progress from middle of the table displays in the last couple of seasons to a strong title challenger this year. Coach Paulo Autouri understands the thrust they have put on youth development would take the red and black side a long way, but that counts for nothing unless they won something.
After missing out on one opportunity to end their title drought early this month in the Heir Apparent’s Cup final, the Brazilian and his boys are keen not to waste another.
With Al Gharafa already securing one of the two berths in next season’s AFC Champions League, Al Rayyan have a chance to take up the other in the Asia’s premier club competition. No wonder, Al Rayyan are fired up with just as much ambition and desire as their fans are desperate for success.
“We were more attacking of the two sides in the semi-final, pushing on every opportunity from the start. I think it will be just as much an open game tomorrow,” predicts Autouri, who will be relying on strikers duo Amara Diane and Imad Ali al-Hosni. Ivory Coast’s Diane scored a hat-trick against Qatar SC to take his tournament tally to four goals, while Bahraini striker al-Hosni has two goals. Al Rayyan are bidding for a fourth title in their 12th Emir’s Cup final appearance, with the last success coming against Al Gharafa three seasons ago. But Autuori wants his players to take to the field today with no history of disappointment or failure in the match bearing down on them.Yet Diane and midfielder Younus Ali are determined to see off their coach with a flourish. “We have reached the two finals which is an indication that we are improving as a team,” said Diane, who dedicated his hat-trick against Qatar SC to his family and Rayyan fans. “In Al Rayyan we have a big family. Now we are playing the final 90 minutes or so. We’d like to salute our coach and fans all their support extended to us.” Autuori is heading back to Brazil where he is understood to have agreed to take charge as coach of Gremio, one of the top Brazilian clubs.
“We’re ready both mentally and physically. We are confident of providing an entertaining match and looking to end with the title,” Ali said. |
