Red Bull Salzburg claimed a convincing victory, by four goals to one, over Aspire Academy in a closely fought match, ensuring their continued progress and a berth in the semi-final stage of the Al Kass International Cup 2016.
It was Aspire who took the early lead when Abdulrasheed Ibraham scored in the sixth minute.
However, the balance of the tie definitively shifted on 21 minutes when, in one of Red Bull’s rare forays forward, midfielder Abdelahim Montie found himself in space on the left of the Aspire area, and his pinpoint cross was expertly dispatched by Kenan Kirim to make it 1-1.
Buoyed by the equaliser, Red Bull began to gain the upper hand, and were soon ahead through Nikolas Meister in the 27th minute.
Red Bull then consolidated their lead in the 36th minute through a Alexander Burgstaller header.
The second half saw Aspire battle hard to reduce the deficit but couldn’t and it was Red Bull who got their fourth in the 61st minute through Can.
Aspire can look back with pride on a battling performance that at one stage appeared to be propelling them towards the semi-finals. Instead, it is Red Bull who are through to the last four, and the discipline and character that they have displayed thus far suggests that, on their day, the Austrians can beat all-comers.
Inter down Estudiantes
Inter Milan came out on top of a closely contested contest in the first game of the last eight at Al Kass, defeating Estudiantes 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals. The Argentines can count themselves unlucky to have lost in rather controversial circumstances, having harshly conceded a penalty with the game finely balanced.
The goals came in the last 20 minutes of the match and till then it was the South American side that had the better chances. Estudiantes were creating goalscoring opportunities, but their shooting was generally wayward, allowing Inter to sit back and wait for the right moment to strike.
In the 79th minute substitute left back Roberto di Jenno broke down the wing and centred. Fucile blocked the cross, and referee Mashari Al Shammari immediately pointed to the spot. In fact, replays suggested that the ball had come off Fucile’s knee rather than his hand. Gaetano Maranzio stepped up to calmly dispatch the penalty kick, giving Inter a 1-0 lead they had barely deserved.
The Argentines’ agony was complete with four minutes remaining, as they committed players forward in search of an equaliser and Inter were able to double their lead through a counter attack.
Inter advanced into the semi-finals and, while their performance was less than electrifying, the impression is growing that they are genuine championship challengers.
After three matches, their record reads: played three, won three, scored twelve, conceded…none.