Hosts Aspire Academy and reigning champions Glasgow Rangers yesterday played out the first draw of this year’s Al Kass International Cup, sharing the points after an eight-goal thriller.
Both sides were already assured of qualification so made plenty of changes from their respective victories over Suwon Samsung, Aspire fielding just four of the players who started the opener and Rangers selecting five of their first choice XI.
Rangers needed to win to top the group but they got off to a nightmare start, going behind after just two minutes. Abdulrahman al-Dosari swung in a cross from the left but the Rangers defence dithered, allowing the alert Mobark Hamza to open the scoring.
It was 2-0 on eight minutes as Rangers’ defence was again sloppy and Mohamed al-Quraishi showed fine control before firing a left-foot shot past Scott Cowie. Charlie Lindsay, named as Rangers’ captain after an immense match-winning performance against Suwon, pulled the Glasgow side back into the match with a perfectly-flighted free-kick after 13 minutes to give Amir Katoul no chance.
A high-scoring start to the match saw Aspire restore their two-goal lead on 17 minutes when Talal al-Raeesi was given plenty of space and he let fly from long range, sending the ball just out of Cowie’s reach.
A fifth goal followed on 29 minutes as Rangers reduced the arrears with a well-taken effort by powerful striker Adedire Mebude. Zak McKay sent a fine cross in from the right and London-born Mebude, whose brother Dapo recently made his Rangers debut at the age of just 17, held off two challenges before scoring with an angled drive.
Cowie gifted Aspire their fourth goal on 38th minutes when he parried al-Quraishi’s cross straight into the path of Abdulaziz al-Naimi who made no mistake. Rangers reduced the arrears to 4-3 on 41 minutes, Lindsay tucking the ball under the keeper after Mebude had flicked it into his path.
Cowie was replaced by Jack McConnell at half-time and he should have been picking the ball out of the net within two minutes. Al-Naimi crossed and found Hamza in plenty of space but he fired over.
Rangers twice went close to equalising just after the hour-mark, Zak McKay firing just over and Lindsay was then denied a hat-trick by the keeper’s legs. Rangers appealed for a penalty as the ball hit skipper Mohamed Ali’s hand before reaching Lindsay.
Rangers attacking play was impressive but they were sloppy at the back and on-loan American professional Francis Jacobs, on his first start for the club, totally miskicked in his own area but al-Dosari failed to take advantage.
Within seconds, Rangers broke up the other end and Robbie Ure, who netted against Suwon in the opener, fired over. Kyle Semple also went close for Rangers as they chased an equaliser, although they needed to win to top the group.
Rangers finally grabbed an equaliser in the 88th minute as Lindsay’s flick sent through Ure and his shot was parried to Rory Wilson to score.
Wilson had only come on two minutes earlier but there was a hint of offside about his goal.
Lindsay picked up his second Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the tournament and is already established as one of the class acts this year.
Aspire Academy players celebrate after scoring a goal against Glasgow Rangers during the Al Kass International Cup yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram
