(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Fawad Hussain
|
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins lauded his team following an impressive 4-2 victory over reigning continental champions Al Ain, saying that his squad is improving with every match.
The Cheetahs took a commanding 2-0 lead, thanks to a brace from Joselu, but had to fend off a strong comeback from the UAE giants, with goals from Alejandro Romero and Soufiane Rahimi. Despite this, Seydou Sano and Yacine Brahimi ensured Al Gharafa's first victory in the AFC Champions League Elite, securing a memorable win at Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday night.
After suffering a 3-0 defeat to Iran's Esteghlal in their opening match, Martins was thrilled with his team's turnaround.
“We were phenomenal in the match and deserved to win against Al Ain,” said the coach.
“I'm delighted by the fact that the team is showing improvement with every game, which is crucial as we aim for a successful season. Al Ain did well to level the scores after we took a two-goal lead, but that wasn't surprising because they are a strong side and won the title last year. However, what matters is that we responded by scoring two more goals to achieve this wonderful win,” Martins added.
Read Also
Formula 1 returns to Qatar: An essential fans' guide to the drivers and teams in pole position
Hassan returns as Lopez announces Qatar squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers
Gawad ends Al Tamimi's run at Qatar Classic; Gohar storms into quarters
Doha to host Diamond League 2025 meeting in May
“Even after we conceded those quick goals, I remained confident that the team could win, and they proved me right.”
Joselu, the star of the match, was pleased to play a crucial role in the victory.
“We needed this win. I'm happy I scored, but the most important thing is that the team achieved the victory. We lost our last game in the league, so it was important to show we can play as a unit. We performed well and scored four goals,” the Spanish forward said.
“Now, we need to focus on what lies ahead.”
Al Gharafa's next AFC Champions League Elite match is scheduled for October 22 against UAE's Al Wasl Club at Al Bayt Stadium. But their immediate attention will be on Saturday's QSL Cup match against Umm Salal.
MENAFN03102024000063011010ID1108742464
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.