(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Glasgow Rangers and AS Roma will go head-to-head in the final of the Al Kass International Cup tomorrow after knocking out Kashiwa Reysol and Aspire Academy respectively in the semi-finals.
Yesterday at the Aspire Academy training ground, Rangers registered a comprehensive 5-1 victory but Roma required penalties to end Aspire's brave bid, the hosts battling back from 2-0 down to force a 2-2 draw.
Rangers recorded the biggest win in Al Kass history when destroying Etoile Sportive Du Sahel 7-0 in the quarter-finals, and they continued their free-scoring form after a tight start.
Kashiwa are a difficult side to break down and it took Rangers until the 37th minute to open the scoring, and it came courtesy of the most bizarre goal of the tournament. Keeper Masato Sasaki rolled the ball out to Daichi Sugaware, but he slipped and Arron Lyall nipped in to score. Nathan Young-Coombes' low shot on 43 minutes gave Rangers a 2-0 goal half-time advantage and the Scots continued to impress after the break with Kai Kennedy (2) and Alexander Lowry adding further goals, with Hidetaka Maie grabbing a consolation for Kashiwa.
The second semi-final also came to life towards the end of the first half when Roma scored twice in the space of three minutes through Nicola Zalwski and Mory Bamba.
Man-of-the-match Mekki Tombari then produced a two-goal burst of his own, earning and converting a spot-kick after 68 minutes and then equalizing with a spectacular volley three minutes later to set up the tournament's first penalty decider.
Roma converted all four of their kicks while Roma keeper Pietro Boer pulled off two fine saves as the Italians went through 4-1 on penalties.
'It was a fantastic game. I think the performance of my players really merits the opportunity to play in the final. I think it'll be a difficult position for us. We have to play a certain way. We need great patience and most importantly, great quality, David McCallum, coach, of Glasgow Rangers said.
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