Last week, Saudi football fans were ecstatic and overwhelmed with joy. Two back-to-back wins enabled Saudi teams to reach the quarterfinal of both the AFC Champions League and Asian Federation Cup.
On Tuesday, Al-Ittifaq and Al-Ahli both made it happen. Ittiffaq in Dammam beat a tough opponent, Alsuwaiq from Oman, 1-0 on the last minute. Ittifaq gave us hope in the Asian Federation Cup. I still believe that they are the best and the No. 1 contender for this championship.
As for Al-Ahli, they had the most difficult win among all four teams. When they beat Jazirah in Abu Dhabi, the match ended 3-3 and then the penalty kicks were to decide who the winner is. Ahli and Jazirah battled hard from the first minute as Ahli scored then Jazirah followed. Jazirah and Ahli scored one after the other. It was indeed one breathtaking match. Finally, the penalty kick played in our favor and Ahli won at last.
On Wednesday, Al-Ittihad in Jeddah beat Piroozi 3-0. Ittihad’s squad took the match seriously and even though the 1st half ended 2-0, Ittihad pulled through and scored another goal causing a rage in the stadium.
And finally, it was the Blue Devils that had a spectacular match as they went beyond expectations and beat Baniyas from UAE in Riyadh 7-1.
Hilal played a do-or-die match and played their best of the season. They ended the 1st half 3-0 and even though they reached their 7th goal in the 88th minute, the players didn’t stop attacking Baniyas and still played like they were the underdogs trying to get even. Their fans got to again see the Hilal fighting spirit that has been its hallmark.
Now that the sports scene in the country is very much alive, we only wish that the three teams in the Asian Champions League will not have to meet with each other in the quarterfinals. As for me, my money is on Ittifaq.
2 days of treat for football fans
2 days of treat for football fans
PSG hit five to stun Chelsea in Champions League last 16
- “I am happy to have helped the team but I am more happy that we won against Chelsea because they are a good team,” Kvaratskhelia told
PARIS, France: A gift by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen and two late goals by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave title holders Paris Saint-Germain a stunning 5-2 win over the English side in a thrilling Champions League last 16, first leg on Wednesday.
It looked as if Chelsea would return to London for next week’s second leg with a draw, and perhaps the upper hand in the tie, after they twice came from behind in the first hour at the Parc des Princes.
Bradley Barcola’s early opener for PSG was canceled out by Malo Gusto, and a fantastic Ousmane Dembele finish which put the hosts back ahead just prior to the interval was followed by Enzo Fernandez making it 2-2.
However, a careless Jorgensen pass out was intercepted, allowing Vitinha to score PSG’s third with a delightful lob on 74 minutes, and substitute Kvaratskhelia smashed in a superb fourth for the hosts four minutes from time.
As if that were not enough, Kvaratskhelia scored again in stoppage time, leaving the reigning European champions seemingly with one foot in the quarter-finals before the second leg at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
“I am happy to have helped the team but I am more happy that we won against Chelsea because they are a good team,” Kvaratskhelia told broadcaster Canal Plus as he dismissed suggestions PSG were not the same force as last season.
“I don’t agree because we are still PSG and I think today we showed everybody that we are capable of everything. We just have to continue like this.”
The tie may not quite be over, but this result also gives PSG a measure of revenge in the first meeting of the teams since Chelsea crushed an exhausted French side 3-0 in last July’s Club World Cup final.
Nine of Chelsea’s starting XI that day lined up at kick-off here, the exceptions being Jorgensen — preferred to Robert Sanchez — and defender Wesley Fofana.
They also have a different coach now, of course, with Liam Rosenior having succeeded Enzo Maresca in January.
This game saw him make his return to France, where he did a fine job over 18 months at Strasbourg, the club who belong to the same BlueCo. consortium which owns Chelsea.
His start in west London has been promising enough, but an exit from Europe will now be difficult to avoid, especially as PSG seemed to have their hunger back here after some patchy performances in recent weeks.
Luis Enrique’s team, who won three knockout ties against Premier League sides en route to European glory last year, have struggled to rediscover their form of last season with that marathon campaign taking its toll.
Goalkeeping errors
Ballon d’Or winner Dembele started for just the 15th time in PSG’s 41 matches so far this term. He had played 90 minutes just four times before Wednesday.
They are a mere point ahead of Lens at the top of Ligue 1, while they came into this game with just two wins in seven in Europe.
Yet they came flying out of the blocks, going ahead on 10 minutes as Joao Neves nodded the ball down for Barcola, who controlled before firing in off the underside of the crossbar.
The champions were in the mood as Jorgensen tipped a Dembele effort onto the post, but there is a feeling that their decision to sell Gianluigi Donnarumma may cost them.
Matfei Safonov has recently become the first-choice goalkeeper and he was at fault for Chelsea’s first equalizer on 28 minutes.
Fernandez found Gusto in splendid isolation on the Chelsea right and the French full-back scored with a shot which really should have been kept out by Safonov.
The Russian redeemed himself on 39 minutes by parrying a Cole Palmer shot, 14 seconds before Dembele made it 2-1.
He was released by Desire Doue, ran through on goal and feinted one way then the other before scoring with a shot that deflected in off Fofana.
His 12th of the season separated the teams at half-time, but again Chelsea equalized as the hour approached.
Pedro Neto flew down the left and cut the ball back for the unmarked Fernandez to fire in first-time.
Then Chelsea collapsed, as Barcola intercepted a Jorgensen pass and Vitinha finished in style, before Kvaratskhelia’s stunning solo effort and late finish from Achraf Hakimi’s assist made it a night to remember for the hosts.
