(MENAFN- The Peninsula) chinthana wasala |
The Peninsula
Doha: Al Duhail head coach Hernan Crespo was delighted with his team's fighting win over Al Sadd which helped them set up a clash with Umm Salal in the final of the Ooredoo Cup.
Al Duhail on Thursday came from a goal down to beat two-time champions Al Sadd 3-1 at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium to reach the final of the prestigious tournament for the first time since 2019.
Tunisian attacking midfielder Ferjani Sassi scored a brace while substitute Ismail Mohammed added the third goal for the winners after Ayoub El Kaabi had put the Wolves in front.
Following the strong win, Crespo said in a statement that his team imposed the playing style they had planned against Al sad in the crucial semi-final.
Al Duhail's Ferjani Sassi (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring his first goal.
“It was a wonderful match in which we succeeded in imposing our style. We took the ball possession throughout the game, with intensity and an offensive method,” Crespo who has just completed one year with the Qatar football giants, said.
“It was a decisive match we had to win to qualify for the final. I am very satisfied with the performance of the players, because despite the fact that the match started with us behind by one goal, the team never lost its conviction in what we had to do,” Crespo said.
The Argentinean tactician also praised the effort of all his players.
“I speak about the players courage, determination and of course the huge efforts of everyone, from the starting players to the substitutes who came in during the match, and even those who were willing to come on. Congratulations to everyone, now we will rest and tomorrow we will start working for the final,” the 47-year-old former prolific Argentina striker said.
Umm Salal, meanwhile, made it to the title clash after upstaging Al Arabi 2-1 with an injury-time goal in a thriller at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, also on Thursday.
Abdullah Khafifi (87th minute) and Yassin Al Bakhit (90+5 minute) struck late for Umm Salal, while Ibrahim Nasser Kalla scored the only goal for Al Arabi in the 33rd minute.
The blockbuster final clash will kick off at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday at 10:00pm.
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