Tuesday, Apr 16, 2013
Dubai: Al Nasr coach Ali Murad promised to return stronger and better for next year’s competition after his team went down 1-4 to Spanish giants Valencia CF in the final of the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Under-19 international football tournament late on Monday.
Playing before a sizeable home crowd, Al Nasr were floored by three goals within five minutes from the Spaniards. It was captain Augustin Delgado leading them with a well-struck free-kick in the 22nd minute that evaded the outstretched hands of Ebrahim Essa, who was later named best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Two minutes later, Fernando Fenolloso Gomes made it 2-0 with an easy tap-in from close range, while Vincent Albert Garcia ensured a hold on the trophy when he received a through ball from man of the final Ignacio Gil and placed past the Al Nasr goalkeeper in the 27th minute.
“It was always going to be tough for us to fight back from three goals down,” Murad admitted.
“But this tournament has shown us that we are capable of matching the best teams from anywhere in the world. We played well as a team and made it to the final. So the goal next year will be to work out on our weaknesses and return even stronger,” the coach added.
Al Nasr did pull one goal back in the 80th minute when Khalaf Ali Saeed sent in a diving header past the Valencia goalkeeper, only to see the visitors score a fourth goal in the 84th minute when David Martinez broke the offside trap to cut in and score.
“We already know what sort of team we will have next year. We have some keen under-15 players and along with some of these under-17 players we will be in a position to do well. We want to make it to the final again next year,” Murad said.
Dr. Ahmad Sa’ad Al Sharif, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council was the chief guest and handed over the winners trophy to Valencia captain Delgado in the presence of Marwan Bin Ghulaita, CEO, Al Nasr Club and Sven-Goran Eriksson, Technical Director, Al Nasr.
Earlier, last year’s champions Lega Pro Italy had to stay content with third place after winning 2-1 win over Al Ahli.
Saeed Ahmad gave Al Ahli the lead in the tenth minute, but Giovanni Laraia drew level for the Italians in the 33rd minute and Sebastiano Dalio put them clear 2-1 in the 43rd minute, in what proved to be the match-winner.
By Alaric Gomes Senior Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
