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Thursday 07 Feb 2019
roma and rangers: tournament dangers
Raja Club Athletic 0 - 3 Rangers FC AS Roma 5 - 2 PSG Thursday 07 Feb 2019
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& A RED CARD ON A NIGHT OF OUTSTANDING FOOTBALL
“THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR YOUNG “WE CAME TO SEE OUR TEAM! LADS HERE IS INCREDIBLE. THEY’VE OUR BLOOD IS GREEN LIKE RAJA CASABLANCA!” PLAYED VERY WELL AGAINST THE 10 RAJA TEAM. IT’S THE FIRST AL KASS GOALS TOURNAMENT I’VE BEEN AT. SOME OF Scottish youth international Cole McKinnon to men versus 10 men, and we controlled most neatly turn and fire home. Another talented of the game. Our boys produced their best international to impress was highly-rated football, but I hope they do not get too THE OTHER GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE midfielder Kai Kennedy, and his cool finish comfortable with this win because we have gave Rangers a 2-0 interval lead. other games coming up. I am confident Matt Yates added a third in the closing stages that, with this performance, our team will BEFORE. IT’S GREAT, FANTASTIC.” Glasgow Rangers and Roma produced of the game to complete an emphatic easily make it to the quarter-finals. Alkass the most dominant performances of the victory for Rangers, who enjoyed 67% of is definitely an amazing tournament. We tournament so far, brushing aside Raja possession. want our players to have the opportunity Casablanca and reigning champions PSG to play against the best teams in the world “When I heard Roma was playing, I immediately came respectively on the third day of the 2019 Roma were every bit as impressive when and prove themselves. You just have to look Alkass International Cup. smashing five goals past PSG keeper Louis around - Aspire Academy is fantastic, and here because I try not to miss any of their games, and Mouquet in a game that featured three we are delighted with the facilities and the The likes of Real Madrid, Etoile Sportive Du penalties. way we have been treated since we came I have even been to Rome to watch them play in their Sahel and Spartak Moscow have conjured Edoardo Bove’s brace and Tommaso here.” moments of outstanding creativity and Milanese’s strike had seen the Italians home ground. Roma did not perform well in previous goalscoring prowess this week, but Rangers scorch into a 3-0 lead, and Nicola Zalewski Fabrizio Piccareta, AS Roma head coach and Roma played well for the full 90 minutes added two more from the spot, even though “It was quite clear that we were the better tournaments, but they are very organized this year and I and were full value for their victories. Matteo Cancellieri had earlier missed a team. Although I knew PSG were the penalty. champions last year and won the first Alkass have high hopes from them.” Moroccans Raja had been impressive when tournament, every year is different, and my defeating hosts Aspire Academy two days PSG, who scored through Isaac Karamoko team were well prepared. earlier but, despite being roared on by their and skipper Kenny Nagera, have been far “The first match is always not easy, and I enthusiastic fans, they had no answer to the from their best this week, and have failed to believe we can do even better, but I am skill and passing movement of the Scottish impress in either of their games. proud of the players and we will make sure TOP PLAYERS - MATCHDAY THREE outfit. Their chances were not helped when Rangers and Roma, however, were full of skill, to improve as we did in the second half, in defender Lahya Laamech was sent off after slick passing and quick thinking, and both order to stay in the lead.” Match 1 Match 2 20 minutes after bringing down the former sides will feel confident of going all the way in England Under-15 international Nathan the competition. Laurent Huard, PSG head coach Young-Coombes on the edge of the box. “It’s very difficult this year, and I feel Kai Alexander KENNEDY, Rangers Edoardo BOVE, Roma Views of the coaches disappointed. Roma attacked very quickly 1 goal for Rangers in their 3-0 win over 2 goals for Roma in their 5-2 win over Raja were already a goal down by then as David McCallum, Glasgow Rangers head from the very start. There were some Raja Club Athletic PSG the impressive Young-Coombes, who recently coach technical problems, and maybe a lack of joined the Gers from Chelsea, had set up “Our players were terrific today. It was 11 passion, but that is not an excuse.”
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Raja Club Athletic
GK Yassine ZOUBIR DF Walid HAOUZI DF Adham EL KHALFY DF Abdelkhalek CHOUROUKI (C ) DF Yahya LAAMECH MF Rayane MOURAJID MF Oussama ZEMRAOUI MF Anas MTITACH FW Chiboub ABDENNABI RANGERS ROMP HOME MF Ismail EL IDRISSI EL ARARI AGAINST 10-MAN RAJA FW Elhoussine RAHIMI
Glasgow Rangers ran out easy winners pass from the right, jinking effortlessly past two with Coombes delivering a particularly Rangers FC against Raja Casablanca in a match that the defenders before burying the ball low to the eyecatching performance. On 65 minutes, young Scots dominated from start to finish. keeper’s left. he almost scored with an impudent overhead kick, only for Zoubir to produce a GK Lewis Kevin BUDINAUCKAS Raja had come into the game off the back The best that Raja had managed in the stunning save to tip the ball over. DF David Kyle MCCLELLAND (C ) of a narrow victory over Aspire Academy, opening exchanges was a succession of DF Harris David OCONNOR thanks in no small part to their Qatari free kicks from wide on the right, each of Moments later, Ross McCausland cut in from MF Ciaran DICKSON opponents being reduced to nine men. This which had floated harmlessly into the arms of the left, but his low shot rolled just wide of the MF Kai Alexander KENNEDY time round, it was the Moroccans’ turn to Rangers keeper Lewis Budinauckas. Reduced far post. And, with 10 minutes remaining, the MF Murray Joseph MILLER face a numerical disadvantage, although to ten men, they suddenly found it difficult to pacey attacker once again broke free inside DF Leon John Phillips THOMSON they struggled to cope against the well- get out of their own half. However, just before the area and should have made it three, MF Cole MCKINNON drilled Scots from the outset. the interval, they almost reduced the deficit but his weak shot from 12 yards out did not DF Matthew HENDERSON when Elhoussine Rahimi was set free down unduly trouble Zoubir. FW Ross Leslie Alan MCCAUSLAND After a strong start, Rangers went ahead the right by a defence-splitting cross-field FW Nathan Jay YOUNG COOMBES on 15 minutes. Cole McKinnon set off on a pass. The tall winger did the difficult part by The traffic was by now almost entirely one driving run into opposition territory before rounding Budinauckas, but was then unable way, and substitute Alexander Lowry spurned laying off to Nathan Coombes, who beat to direct the ball home from a wide angle. another chance moments later when one- his man down the left before cutting back on-one with the keeper, choosing to shoot from the byline. McKinnon pounced, turning But it was the boys in blue who were when he had the option of rounding the sharply and firing a rising drive into the roof of undoubtedly in the ascendancy, and they Moroccan stopper. Ciaran Dixon then set the net. tightened their grip on the game in the off on a powerful surge down the right, MAN OF THE MATCH second period. unleashing a strong shot that Zoubir did Coombes went close to doubling the brilliantly to keep out, but the Rangers advantage five minutes later, seizing on a Rangers’ senior side is currently enjoying midfielder was first to the rebound, cutting Kai Alexander KENNEDY, low free kick to spin and drill a low shot that a renaissance under the management of back for Matt Yates to apply the simplest of Yassine Zoubir struggled to hold. The Rangers Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend was finishes. winger was terrorising the Casablanca once described by none other than Zinedine Rangers backline and, on 22 minutes, he forced Zidane as the best midfielder in the world, Seconds later, Reibelt pointed to the an ill-timed lunge from right back Yahya and his winning combination of talent, spot after Dixon went to ground under a MVP of the Match
Laamech on the edge of the box. Australian determination and hard work remains an challenge from Abdellah Azrour, only for referee Reibelt reached straight for her inspiration to footballers everywhere, not least VAR to make its now customary intervention. pocket, showing Laamech his second yellow this talented group of Glaswegian youngsters. The referee amended her decision and of the game, which was immediately – and And, if Gerrard was watching from afar, he awarded a free kick instead, although inevitably – followed by a red. would undoubtedly have been impressed by replays suggested there had been little or no the tenacity shown by his young charges, contact. In the event, it mattered little, as the Things soon got worse for the Moroccans, final whistle sounded seconds later. when livewire Kai Kennedy latched onto a The Experts “ I know that Raja Casablanca had Yahya Laamech sent off and, after that, Rangers dominated the game but to be honest they were dominating before that. They look extremely strong, they’re physically strong, and also very mature in the way they play. This looks like a real mature team who X Say… could maybe go quite far in this tournament, even win it. The man of the match, Kai Kennedy, has trained with the Rangers’ first Rhodri Williams - team so he’s already performing at the highest level and that showed. Match Score “Along with Aslan Mutaliev of Spartak Moscow he is one of the players of the Al Kass Analyst tournament so far. 0 3 Raja Club Athletic Rangers FC
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La Liga club Deportivo de La Coruna’s and Columbia (0-1), many clubs expressed or Aspire Academy from Qatar, all teams reserve team, where he impressed enough an interest in signing the promising young were completely different, but each one to be moved up to the senior team where he defender. of us gave his best and we were up to the kept a clean sheet on his debut in a match challenge,” says Wague. which ended in a goalless draw against Eibar As had always been the dream of Wague to on October 15, 2017. At the age of 18 years play for FC Barcelona, Aspire Zone-owned Uzoho also remembers the great team and 352 days, he became the youngest ever club KAS Eupen and FC Barcelona agreed a spirit within the group. “Everyone was very foreign goalkeeper to make his debut in La transfer of the Senegalese, who kicked off his focused, everyone knew what he had to do Liga, and the second-youngest player to new chapter in Spain in the 2018-19 season on the pitch and we helped each other in appear in the league during the campaign, by playing games for the club’s B-team. As a the game as good as we could. Some might only behind Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi, potential player for Barcelona’s first team, the say that winning the final in a penalty shoot who had actually played in the 2014 and right-back has also been registered as a part was lucky, but we had beaten Real Madrid 2015 editions of the Al Kass International Cup of the UEFA Champions League squad for the already in the group stage and we knew and who also played all three games for knockout fixtures, starting with the Round of that we would have a chance to beat them Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 16 game against Lyon in February 2019. again in the final, if we showed the same focus and determination as in the games Via Belgium to FC Barcelona Memories of the 2014 Al Kass International before.” While Uzoho, who made his debut for Cup Nigeria’s senior team against Argentina on Undoubtedly, many things have happened Did this tournament have an effect on November 14, 2017, joined Segunda División in the careers of Wague and Uzoho since their future careers? According to Wague, side Elche CF on loan after returning from they celebrated winning the Al Kass trophy it definitely did. “It was a big stage for us, Russia, his former Aspire International team- together in 2014. Successfully making the the environment was very professional, the mate Wague took a detour to Spain. By the step into professional football, taking on the competition level was very high. Winning time of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Wague challenge of going abroad to play in Europe this cup definitely showed us that we can played for KAS Eupen, having joined the and, of course, being in the world’s spotlight compete with some of the world’s best and Belgium club that is owned by Aspire Zone at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia – these that was definitely very motivating for all of us Foundation, in 2016 after coming out of the are just some of their achievements after Al to keep on working hard in order to make our AFD-program. Kass. Nonetheless, according to both players, dreams come true to play one day on a big the experience they made competing in stage as professional footballers.” And there THE His profile continued to rise in Russia. By Doha five years ago was a very valuable is not much stage bigger than a FIFA World scoring for Senegal in a 2-2 against Japan, one. Cup… Wague became the youngest African goal scorer in the history of World Cup finals, “We thought it was spectacular and we FROM at the age of only 19 years and 263 days. were quite excited to get the chance to play SUCCESS Playing in all games for Senegal in the group against teams from all over the world. Real stage against Poland (1-2), Japan (2-2) Madrid from Spain, Fluminense from Brazil Both Wague and Uzoho had proven AL KASS throughout the 2014 Al Kass International STORIES OF Cup, that they were able to deal with pressure and to make the right decisions in challenging situations. Attributes that would TRIUMPH be beneficial in their future careers and FRANCIS especially when both of them had their international breakthrough representing their respective countries, Senegal and Nigeria, at UZOHO AND IN 2014 the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Former Aspire Football Dreams goalkeeper Uzoho, who was part of the Nigerian national team that won the U17 FIFA World Cup in TO THE 2013, made his debut in the 2018 FIFA World MOUSSA Cup starting in the 2-0 defeat of his home country in their first group match against Croatia, where he was only beaten by an 2018 FIFA unlucky own goal by Etebo (32’) and a WAGUE Modric penalty (71’). In the final minute of the game, Uzoho produced another great save WORLD against Real Madrid’s Kovacic. The 19-year-old keeper was the fourth It was January 23, 2014, when the U17 sides youngest player in the 2018 FIFA World of Real Madrid and Aspire International Cup and he also started in Nigeria’s 2-0 faced each other in the final of the Al Kass CUP win against Iceland and the 1-2 defeat by International Cup in Doha. After the game Argentina. ended 1-1, a penalty shoot-out had to decide the winner. Moussa Wague, Aspire’s Uzoho, who was born on October 28, 1998 young defender, was the first one to step up Uzoho to clinch the victory by saving Javier in Nwangele, originally started as a striker for his team and he kept a cool head and Carrera’s shot and securing the 4-3 win after before putting on the goalkeeper gloves scored from the spot. In the end, it was up to penalties. at the age of 12. After being part of Aspire his team-mate and goalkeeper Francis Football Dreams from 2013 to 2017, he joined
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AS Roma
GK Pietro BOER MF Andrea ASTROLOGO MF Mory BAMBA MF Edoardo BOVE DF Alessio BUTTARO FW Matteo CANCELLIERI MF Tommaso Pantaleo MILANESE DF Vincenzo Venturino MUTEBA DF Samuele SUFFER MF Filippo TRIPI (C ) FW Nicola ZALEWSKI
PSG
GK Louis MOUQUET ROMAN DF Gaylord KITENGE DF Abdoulaye KAMARA DF Hubert MBUYI MUAMBA DF Soumaula COULIBALY CONQUERORS MF Nathan BITUMAZALA MF Hervé MALEBE Roma were the first to threaten in the third break when being awarded a penalty but FW Tidjany CHABROL minute but Louis Mouqet comfortably saved Matteo Cancellieri tried to be too clever and FW Isaac KARAMOKO ARE FAR TOO Mory Bamba’s effort. The Romans then took his chipped effort from the spot came back FW Kenny NAGERA (C ) control of the game with two goals in as off the woodwork. FW Samuel NOIREAU many minutes. Roma were awarded another penalty on 51 Bamba crossed for Edoardo Bove on 11 minutes when Cancellieri’s shot hit the hand GOOD FOR minutes and his neat side-footed shot gave of Gaylord Kitenge and Milanese made no Mouqet no chance. Just a minute later the mistake from the spot as the Italians went French keeper was picking the ball out of the 4-1 ahead. Amazingly Roma were awarded net again after Tommaso Milanese produced a third penalty of the night on 57 minutes THE REIGNING a powerful drive after being set up by the when Bove was clipped in the box and, after MAN OF THE MATCH influential Bove. analyzing the VAR TV screen, the referee Roma’s dominant start continued when Bove pointed to the spot and Zalewski coolly made it 3-0 from close range after Nicola slotted home. Edoardo BOVE, Roma CHAMPIONS Zalewski’s flick on and the latter almost made PSG’s star striker and skipper Kenny Nagera it four just seconds later. scored a consolation five minutes from time Reigning champions PSG were crushed by a PSG, the most successful team in the when heading home after Daniel Labila’s MVP of the Match superb display from Italian side Roma, leaving history of the tournament with three wins, effort was parried by Mouquet. the Parisians with just one point from their were certainly on the backfoot but Isaac Nagera, along with Anfane Ahamada and
opening two games. Karamoko pulled one back when Roma Herve Malebe, were in last year’s successful Denied by a last-minute goal from last year’s keeper Pietro Boer’s save fell to the French side but on the evidence of this display Roma runners-up Kashiwa Reysol two days earlier, striker who sent a left-foot volley into the net. have every chance of becoming the first PSG were never in the match as the Italians Roma had a chance to restore their three- Italian side to lift the trophy.
started like an express train. goal advantage four minutes before the
I was very surprised by how easily PSG were beaten. They’ve won it three The Experts “ times before and I don’t know if they’ve got a younger side this time but the first game we saw them play they didn’t seem very strong. We thought tonight they would bounce back and it wasn’t to be the case, but it was a Say… very strong Roma. X Without a shadow of a doubt Roma can win the tournament. I would say Spartak Moscow, Real Madrid, Roma, Etoile Sportive all have a chance. Nick Summerbee – We’re starting to see more quality coming through. It’s a little bit of a slow “starter but now we’re slowly starting to see a better football. Rangers as Match Score Al Kass Analyst well by the way. Rangers have a chance as well. It’s getting good now, it’s 5 2 getting exciting. AS Roma PSG
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Al Kass International Cup Thursday 07 Feb 2019
GAMES12 SCHEDULE
1 Paris Saint Germain FC 1 1 Kashiwa Reysol 16 35 5 2 Aspire Academy 0 1 Raja Club Athletic 18 45 5
3 FC Bayern M nchen 2 3 Etoile Sportive Du Sahel 16 35 4 4 FC Spartak Moscow 2 3 Real Madrid CF 18 45 4
5 Raja Club Athletic 0 3 Rangers FC 16 35 5 6 AS Roma 5 2 Paris Saint Germain FC 18 45 5
7 Altinordu FK Etoile Sportive Du Sahel 16 35 4 8 Real Madrid CF Suwon Samsung F.C 18 45 4
9 Aspire Academy Rangers FC 16 35 5 10 Kashiwa Reysol AS Roma 18 45 5
11 FC Bayern M nchen Altinordu FK 16 35 4 12 Suwon Samsung F.C FC Spartak Moscow 18 45 4
13 Position 9 Position 10 16 35 4 14 Position 11 Position 12 19 00 4
15 st Group A nd Group C 16 35 5 16 st Group C nd Group A 19 00 5
17 st Group B nd Group D 16 35 5 18 st Group D nd Group B 19 00 5
19 Loser Game No. 15 Loser Game No. 18 16 35 4 20 Loser Game No. 16 Loser Game No. 17 19 00 4
21 inner Game No. 15 inner Game No. 18 16 35 5 22 inner Game No. 16 inner Game No. 17 19 00 5
23 Loser Game No. 19 Loser Game No. 20 15 00 4 24 inner Game No. 19 inner Game No. 20 17 45 4
25 Loser Game No. 21 Loser Game No. 22 15 00 5 ORGANIZERS STRATEGIC PARTNER PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSOR OFFICIAL PARTNERS 26 17 45 5
ORGANIZERS STRATEGIC PARTNER PLATINUM SPONSORS GOLD SPONSOR OFFICIAL PARTNERS
OFFICIAL MEDICAL PARTNER OFFICIAL SPORTS EAR PARTNER OFFICIAL CARRIER OFFICIAL HOTELS OFFICIAL TRAVEL AGENCY OFFICIAL ATER PARTNER BRANDING PARTNER OFFICIAL TRANSPORTATION PARTNER
OFFICIAL MEDICAL PARTNER OFFICIAL SPORTS EAR PARTNER OFFICIAL CARRIER OFFICIAL HOTELS OFFICIAL TRAVEL AGENCY OFFICIAL ATER PARTNER BRANDING PARTNER OFFICIAL TRANSPORTATION PARTNER Al Kass International Cup