1 Thursday 14 Feb 2019 2 3 RANGERS PRODUCE Rangers FC GK Lewis Kevin BUDINAUCKAS PERFORMANCE DF David Kyle MCCLELLAND (C) DF Harris David OCONNOR MF Ciaran DICKSON OF TOURNAMENT TO MF Kai Alexander KENNEDY MF Murray Joseph MILLER CRUSH KASHIWA DF Leon John Phillips THOMSON MF Cole MCKINNON Rangers powered into the final of Al Kass DF Matthew HENDERSON 2019, overpowering Kashiwa Reysol by FW Arron John LYALL five goals to one with a performance that FW Nathan Jay YOUNG COOMBES combined attacking panache, defensive discipline and total commitment to the cause. Kashiwa, appearing at the tournament for the fifth year, had slowly grown into the Kashiwa Reysol competition. Having snatched a last minute equaliser to PSG, they were second best in a 2-0 reverse to Roma, before delivering a GK Masato SASAKI performance of consummate professionalism did Kai Kennedy soon after. Both efforts a way back into the game. But it soon DF Hayato FUJIMOTO to knock Real Madrid out. were indicative of the fact that Rangers became clear that their efforts were in vain, DF Ibuki TODA (C) In a clear sign of Rangers’ strength in depth, were having difficulty getting the ball into when Kennedy sped down the left wing FW Yuki SHIMIZU Christopher McKee was named as one of danger areas, but on 27 minutes McKinnon before cutting inside and letting fly, his low MF Sohki TAMURA the substitutes, despite having come off had a great chance to open the scoring, shot taking a defection off Fumito Okihara, DF Fumito OKIHARA the bench to score a hat-trick in the 7-0 dispatching a firm header from Young- leaving Sasaki flatfooted and Rangers DF Takuma OTAKE demolition of ESS. Of course, the player he Coombes’ inviting cross that Masato Sasaki overjoyed. MF Naito SAITO replaced on that occasion – Nathan Young- did well to tip the ball over. A 3-0 deficit was surely too much to FW Shun NAKAJIMA Coombes – had also scored three, and However, as half time approached, the overcome, but Reysol coach immediately MF Daichi SUGAWARA arguably carried the greatest threat of their Reysol keeper was central to a moment of took action with a double substitution. It was DF Hayato TANAKA potent frontline. high drama that saw Rangers take the lead. much to his young charges’ credit that they Kashiwa had an early chance when the ball Having gathered the ball, he rolled it short stuck to their task as this pulsating tie entered bounced around in the Rangers box before to Daichi Sugawara inside the area, who its last quarter. falling to Hayato Tanaka inside the six yard slipped as he turned to accept possession. And, with 12 minutes remaining, substitute area, but the big defender could not get the Lyall was on the scene in a flash, keeping his Hidetaka Maie graphically illustrated this ball down quick enough to produce a shot composure to slot the ball into an empty net. collective determination when he scored on target. Suddenly, Rangers were dominant, and one of the goals of the tournament. Winning MAN OF THE MATCH It was a sign that Reysol had settled first, with Young-Coombes doubled their lead in possession 40 yards out, the big forward the Glasgow side initially struggling to counter emphatic fashion moments before the took a few touches before unleashing an their opponents’ combative approach. The break. Picking up the ball deep in the Reysol unstoppable drive that was still rising as it hit Kai KENNEDY, Rangers FC well-drilled Japanese were content to cede half, the powerful forward advanced into the back of the net. possession to Rangers, keeping all 11 players the area before hammering a low shot that Rangers’ three-goal advantage was restored behind the ball and ready to pounce on Sasaki got his hands to but could not keep almost immediately, however, when Kennedy MVP of the Match rapid counterattacks. out. once more tied his marker in knots down the A fascinating tactical battle began ensued, Kashiwa’s carefully crafted game plan lay left wing before slamming home into the far with the Glaswegians looking to get Aaron in tatters, and their disconsolate players corner. Lyall on the ball down the right, in the hope trudged off the pitch, only too aware that There was still time for a fifth. With the match that his close control could unlock Reysol’s they had a mountain to climb if they were to into added time, Rangers once again compact defence. However, chances reach a second consecutive Al Kass final. targeted Kashiwa’s right back, with Charlie remained at a premium. From the restart, Reysol immediately Allen reaching the byline before pulling back With 20 minutes gone, Cole McKinnon attempted to get on the front foot, for fellow-substitute Alex Lowry to apply a first- went close from distance for the Scots, as committing players forward in search of time finish with the last kick of the match. The Experts “ I was blown away by the performance put up by Rangers. They have a good side and have played some good games in the tournament, but I did not expect the level of football they produced against Kashiwa. Kashiwa also has a strong team but it did not work out for them and it went X Say… downhill for them after they conceded their first goal. Chris Makin - If you analyze the game, it hardly looked like if they faced any troubles Match Score “although they were up against a strong team. Even the one goal they Al Kass Analyst conceded was a world-class strike from outside the box. 5 1 Rangers FC Kashiwa Reysol Al Kass International Cup Thursday 14 Feb 2019 4 5 carved out a decent career since, being part Spanish international Munir El Hadadi of first team before joining fellow English Premier of the victorious French squad at the 2018 Sevilla played at the first Al Kass in the first League side Bournemouth for a club World Cup Finals in Russia. tournament, in the colours of his first club record fee. Another Al Kass winner to become a regular Barcelona. Sandro Ramirez, currently on first-team player is Brazilian left-back Leo Pele. loan at Real Sociedad from English Premier Brahim Diaz played for Manchester City in Within a year of winning the tournament with League side Everton, was also in the Barca 2014, shortly after joining from Malaga, and Fluminense he was playing first-team football, side that year, but the Catalans failed he is now back in La Liga after joining Real and he remained with the club until the end to impress. Madrid, where his dribbling skills are sure to of 2018 when he joined Sao Paulo for Marcos Llorente recently scored his first goal be a hit at the Bernabeu. $3 US million. for the first team at Barca’s great rivals Real A current youngster from Real – Eidur Brazilian central defender Marlon played Madrid, nearly six years after appearing at Godjohnsen’s son Andri – could be in with a more than 50 times for the first team after Al Kass for Los Blancos. Spanish Under 20 chance of being in Qatar for the 2022 World helping Fluminense to victory and his form international Oscar Rodriguez is another to Cup in the colors of Iceland, but which other earned a move to Barcelona, but he is now join the Real first team squad after playing at great talents might be back playing at the in Italy’s Seria A where he is enjoying his first Al Kass, and the talented midfielder stood out nearby Khalifa International Stadium? season with Sassuolo. from the rest with his performances at Aspire Spartak’s Moscow’s five-goal star Ilya Left-sided Brazilian Kenedy was another in 2015. Two of Zinedine Zidane’s sons, Enzo Golyatov or assist king Aslan Mutaliev in that successful Fluminense side and he and Luca, also featured for Real at Al Kass, are promising young Russians; Roma’s showed plenty of potential when on loan the latter being skipper of the side that lost to goalscoring midfielder Edorado Bove has at Newcastle United last season, but the Aspire Football Dreams in the 2015 final. impressed; or maybe one of the Glasgow Chelsea player has endured a disappointing Rangers players who have excelled could campaign this season, having extended his No Italian side has ever won the tournament, be back in Doha in 2022, such as midfielder temporary spell with Rafa Benitez’s side. but Milan finished third in 2014 when Patrick Kai Kennedy – who is already involved Moroccan international right-back Achraf Cutrone stood out for the Rossoneri. At Al Kass with the first team at Ibrox – or Nathan reached the final in 2014 and progressed he was described as “an intelligent player Young-Coombes, who has made an instant into Real Madrid’s first team where he made with a great technique,” and the striker has impression since joining from Chelsea. nine appearances last season, although lived up to that praise by becoming a senior Sanchez would love to see some of the he is currently earning more first-team Italian international. Aspire players he has watched this week opportunities in the Bundesliga while on loan appear at the World Cup, saying: “Aspire INSPIRATIONAL ASIAN CUP VICTORY to Dortmund. Brazilian’s Sao Paulo were runners-up in 2015, is an amazing and unique programme. Playing alongside Achraf in the Dortmund beaten on penalties by PSG, and Eder Militao Players went through a process to be a back four these days is another player who found himself making his first-team debut part of the Asian Cup squad, which shows appeared at Al Kass in the same year as his shortly afterwards.