A Schools United defender (right) tries to block a shot by an AC Bilbao player (centre) at the goal during their LFA-Aspire Challenge match yesterday.

By Sports Reporter/Doha
 

A crucial day of football matches at the LFP – Aspire Challenge tournament yesterday evening ensured a day of mixed emotions for local football fans as both of the competition’s Doha-based teams experienced two very different fortunes.
This being the tournament’s third day of action, both the Aspire Academy team and Schools United team knew they must win their final group stage matches in order to progress any further in the competition.
Kicking the first of four games off yesterday afternoon was Schools United – a team made up of Doha’s best schoolboy footballers – and their Spanish opponents AC Bilbao.
Despite being assembled only a few weeks before the tournament began, Schools United had impressed spectators on Sunday against early tournament favourites Villareal.
Unfortunately for United, their valliant efforts less than 24 hours previously seemed to have left behind some tired legs and within less than four minutes, the local schoolboys had gone a goal behind after a fine 25-yard strike from AC Bilbao striker Marcos Marenco.
In the second half, the Qatari youngsters improved and even hit the crossbar with a superb volleyed effort from 14-year-old Amro Abdelfatah. Sadly though, with the schoolkids just beginning to impose themselves, the game was soon put beyond them just a minute later when defender Yousif Umar gave away a penalty. Stepping up to the mark came AC Bilbao’s Ander Ayarza who then put away his penalty confidently to make the final result 2-0 and end School United’s chances of progression.
In an all-Spanish affair, Valencia beat Celta de Vigo 2-0 to top Group C. Valencia went ahead in the 9th minute following a brilliant towering header from midfielder Vincente Esquerdo.
In the 54th minute, Valencia midfielder Carlos Vadal doubled the lead off a devastating volley. The result ended Celta de Vigo’s chances of progression.
Having drew against UD Almeria 1-1 on Saturday, Aspire Academy returned to the field to fight La Liga opposition Sporting de Gijon. Aware that a win would put them top of the group and able to win the tournament, Aspire showed no mercy in the game’s opening stages and went ahead after just 10 minutes with a superb volley from Andri Syahputra.
Soon after and Aspire had doubled their advantage on 24 minutes when Rashid Brashdi charged down the left-wing with the ball at his feet before pulling off a smart 1-2 with Ahmed Sabaie, before Brashdi pulled the trigger and unleashed a powerful drilled shot to make the score 2-0.
With 48 minutes played the score then became 3-0 when a smart move between Syahputra and Yusef Abdurisag saw Abdurisag score from just a simple tap-in.
Finally, in the game’s final minutes, a controversial penalty decision gave Sporting a chance for a consolation goal. Unfortunately for the Spaniards though, their captain Miguel Del Barrio’s spot kick effort was denied by a diving save from Aspire keeper Marwan El Din.
Sporting finished bottom of their group but have the chance to redeem themselves in a friendly match against AC Bilbao on Tuesday.