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El Jaish wrote a new chapter in their history as the club won their first ever trophy. A goal in either half from striker Abdulgadir Ilyas Bakur secured a great victory over Al Arabi in the QNB Cup final yesterday. |
From virtually the first whistle it was Jaish who looked in control and the more likely side to win the trophy. Blighted by injuries and suspension, Abdulaziz Bennij’s side were always facing an uphill task trying to defeat a strong Jaish outfit.
And in the end they simply could not live with the power and predatory instincts of Bakur as Razvan Lucescu’s side savoured a sweet victory.
It was Bakur who threatened first for El Jaish when he rose to head a third minute corner from Karim Ziani. Al Arabi keeper Rajab Kassim gathered safely though as the Dream Team survived an early.
Saoud Nasser al-Dhahiri then tried his luck for Arabi from distance but the shot sailed over the bar. Thirteen minutes in Djordje Rakic had a great chance to score but his close range was too wild and El Jaish survived.
Razvan Lucescu’s side came close to taking the lead after 25 minutes. Karim Ziani swung in a cross from the right but when it fell to captain Anderson, he drilled a shot just past the post.
Just after the half hour mark Anderson played a huge part in the opening goal. Once again Ziani delivered the cross and once again the Brazilian got to the ball first. His header was cleared off the line but the menacing figure of Bakur was there to stab the ball into the back of the net. Ten minutes after the re-start Anderson was again causing problems as he charged forward from defence. This time he had another shot cleared off the line as Jaish went looking for a second goal. With 56 minutes gone Jaish boss Lucescu brought on Brazilian star Adriano as he looked to secure the trophy as early as possible. The Romanian coach didn’t have long to wait – but it wasn’t the Jaish sub who secured victory.
Bakur was a goal hero in the first half and he helped himself to a second after 63 with a brilliant header into the top corner. Ziani was the provider with a pin-point cross that gave keeper Kassim no chance.
Ten minutes later the striker was relieved of his duties as Wagner Ribeiro came off the bench in place of the goal-scoring star. With his first touch, Wagner could have given Jaish a third goal but his header was straight into the arms of Kassim. In the end Jaish did not require the third goal. The double from Bakur was enough to cement the win and hand Jaish the first trophy in their history.
Before the match coach Lucescu conceded he was hopeful of making history with a victory. He did just that following a hard fought win over the brave runners-up.