Head coach Sabri Lamouchi was full of praise for his Al Duhail side after they defeated Ulsan Hyundai FC 3-1 to finish fifth in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 on Sunday. In a highly-anticipated match against the 2020 AFC Champions League winners, Qatar Stars League champions Al Duhail were on the front foot from the start and their French boss was pleased with their overall performance in their debut appearance.
“I am very proud of the performance of the team in this match, and the performance in the previous match (against Al Ahly), especially in the second half,” said Lamouchi. “I am very happy, and I was hoping to participate in another match, but in the end, I am happy to leave this tournament this way and with this victory. 
“We ended the previous match with great regret, because we started playing well in the second half, and in this match, we started from the first minute to the last minute. We succeeded in scoring against the Asian champions, and I am pleased with the performance of the players. I am satisfied with the performance of the players in this match and the victory achieved, as well as the position the team finished in the team’s first participation.”
Al Duhail could have taken the lead as early as the fourth minute, but Edmilson Junior was caught offside, only for the Belgian midfielder to slot one home from outside the box in the 21st minute.  It was the in-form Edmilson’s 13th strike in his last ten appearances, and was no more than the local favourites merited for an impressive first-half display that should, in truth, have yielded another goal or two.
Ulsan, though, were much improved after the break and claimed a deserved equaliser just after the hour-mark, when Yoon Bitgaram scrambled home after some fine build-up play. But parity lasted for just four minutes, as Al Duhail quickly reclaimed the lead with another delightful effort, as Dudu’s scooped pass was volleyed home first-time by Mohamed Muntari.
And victory was secured eight minutes from time – again, with a goal of the highest quality – as Almoez Ali wriggled in from the right before burying a powerful right-foot shot beyond the helpless Jo Hyeonwoo.
Edmilson was satisfied with his own performance and glad that Al Duhail gave a win to their fans. “I am very happy with this win, and the team presented itself well, and I believe I also managed to perform well, and I’m glad for that. This victory will make all the Qatari people happy, as Al Duhail participated in the tournament as representatives of Qatar and managed to finish fifth. We were aspiring to finish higher but we gave our best,” he said.
Assim Madibo, meanwhile, attributed the win to the team’s determination, and is hoping that Al Duhail will continue their fine performance in the Qatar Stars League and the 2021 AFC Champions League. “We succeeded in achieving victory over the Asian champions after a good match,” said Madibo. “The match was not easy for us, but our determination was behind this great victory. We must continue to improve after this victory, as it can be a new starting point for the team ahead of our domestic and Continental matches, which we must be at our highest physical and technical levels.”
Al Duhail are in Group C of the 2021 AFC Champions League, where they have Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli, Esteghlal of Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq’s Al Shorta for company.