(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Al
Rayyan will be seeking revenge when they face Al Gharafa in the Amir
Cup semi-final today. Last time these two sides met, Rayyan were
thrashed 1-6 by Gharafa in the QNB Stars League.
And Rayyan, the last year's Amir Cup finalist, will be hoping they can
settle the scores at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Both the teams had a
bye into the quarter-finals stage of the competition.
While Rayyan cruised to a 3-0 win over Al Arabi in the last-eight stage,
Ahmed Alaaeldin saved Al Gharafa from the blushes after the substitute
scored the winner in the 88th minute against second division side
Mesaimeer.
Gharafa are also under pressure coming into the prestigious tournament,
having been outplayed 1-6 by Al Duhail in the Qatar Cup semi-finals. So
both the teams have their own problems to deal with.
Rayyan manager Michael Laudrup said his men are aware of the magnitude
of the match and are keen to book their place in the final, which will
be played at the Khalifa International Stadium on May 19.
'We are looking to qualify for the final. I am happy that the semi-final
will be played at the Al Sadd Stadium because the stadium is air
conditioned and makes playing better at this time, he said yesterday.
Laudrup said his team's 1-6 loss to Gharafa in the league will have no
bearing on today's match. 'This match is completely different from the
league meeting, because of the circumstances in which the game will be
played. In the league, it's totally a different scenario. The players
are motivated to reach the final game, the Dane said.
Rayyan is coming to the Amir Cup after a heartbreaking 4-6 loss on
penalties to Al Sadd in the Qatar Cup semi-final. The tie-breaker was
forced after the teams were tied 2-2 after regular time.
Laudrup's men had many positive results to show for in the league's
first phase, but they lost out on the title in the second phase. They
were as inconsistent in a few matches as they were consistent in many.
They will be without their top scorer Abderrazaq Hamdallah, who was
ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. The Moroccan
was the third-best scorer in the QNB Stars League with 18 goals.
However, Al Rayyan have the likes of Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria,
Mohamed Alaaeldin, Ahmed Yasser, Ahmed Abdelmaqsoud, Koh Myong-Jin,
Mohsine Moutaouli and Daniel Goumou to deliver the goods.
On the other hand, Gharafa coach Bulent Uygun is seeking to end his
team's title drought. They last won the Amir Cup title in 2012.
Gharafa finished fourth in the QNB Stars League and the Cheetahs are
reaping rewards for making an overhaul in the January transfer window.
Uygun took over from Frenchman Jean Fernandez, who guided them to the
QSL Cup triumph, before the start of the second phase.
They also strengthened their ranks by roping in Dutch attacking
midfielder Wesley Sneijder, Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi and Assim
Madibo. They have a good mix of experience and youth, and Uygun has
succeeded in moulding them into a fighting unit.
The likes of captain Sneijder, Taremi and Brazilian midfielder Diogo
Amado have gelled well with youngsters such as goalkeeper Yusuf Hassan,
Amro Seraj, Ilyas Ahmed and Monkez Mohamed. They also have talented
players such as Ahmed Alaaeldin, Hassan Fadli, Madibo and Othman
al-Yahri.
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