to open it - Alkass International Cup

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Saturday 6 February 2016
World Class
AL KASS
www.alkassinternationalcup.com
@alkassintlcup
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
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VIPs and local fans show their support
during first day of action at Al Kass
International Cup
Meet the Fans…
Local football fans descended upon the Aspire Zone
on Friday for an exciting opening day of events at
the 2016 Al Kass International Cup.
With the first of three games kicking off at 4.30pm,
supporters in the stands were treated to an evening
of competitive drama that underscored precisely
why this competition is a growing success, and
unofficially dubbed ‘The World Cup for Under 17s’.
Amongst those in the crowd to show their support
for the competition were Hassan Al Thawadi,
Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for
Delivery & Legacy; Mansoor Al Ansari, General
Secretary, Qatar Football Association; Abdualla
Nasser Al Naimi, Director General, Aspire Logistics;
and Essa Abdulla Al Hitmi, Chairman of the Al Kass
Organising Committee.
Commenting on the launch of the tournament,
Mansoor Al Ansari said, “We are very proud of this
competition and its successes, one of which was the
recent participation of the Under 23 Olympic team
in the Asian Cup, who played in the first edition of Al
Kass International Cup.”
“This competition is quickly becoming an integral
part of the development for sporting youth in Qatar,
and it certainly plays a big role for the national
team and the Qatar Football Association. As the
tournament kicks off its fifth year we could not be
prouder of how far it has progressed,” he added.
Adding his own praise, Hassan Abdulla Al-Thawadi
said, “It is tournaments such as this that will
produce the stars of the future, which makes it a
great opportunity for the development of our Qatari
players since they get to compete against some of
the best clubs in the world.”
“Qatar is ready for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and has
the world-class facilities, such as Aspire, to prove
it, and it is competitions such as Al Kass that will
enable our national team’s performance to develop
their world-class footballing skills in time for 2022.”
“We are very proud of this
competition and its successes, one of
which was the recent participation
of the Under 23 Olympic team in the
Asian Cup, who played in the first
edition of Al Kass International Cup.”
Mansoor Al Ansari
General Secretary, Qatar Football Association
Those that could not make the first day of games
also had the option of watching each match with
English and Arabic commentary on Al Kass TV. In
addition, all games were and will be shown on a
live stream on the tournament’s website http://
internationalcup.alkass.net.
Name: Jude Marcus Vadivel
Nationality: Sri Lanka
Supports: Shanghai Greenland
Name: Mohammed Shad
Nationality: Sri Lanka
Supports: Inter Milan
“We came down to Aspire to support
Shanghai Greenland, who I think
played well even though they lost
to Inter Milan. I brought my children
to watch the match and they had a
blast, and so did we as adults. The Al
Kass International Cup 2016 is truly
a great way to introduce children to
sports, and especially the beautiful
game of football – or simply to have
a fun family day out.”
“The organisers of the Al Kass
International Cup 2016 have done
a great job with this tournament as
they do every year. Watching Inter
Milan play was great fun and we
really enjoyed it. We are huge Inter
fans, so we came down to Aspire
to show our dedication to the team
and to the sport. We will definitely
be coming back for more fun and
excitement.”
Follow us on @alkassintlcup
Launching the games on the first day of the
competition was Spanish football legend Xavi
Hernández, who performed the ceremonial kick-off.
Clearly impressed by the first day of games, Essa
Abdulla Al Hitmi, Chairman of the Organising
Committee of Al Kass International Cup, said, “It
is truly a delight to watch such exciting football
on the first day of the fifth edition of the Al Kass
International Cup 2016. This year we are also proud
to welcome six new teams to the tournament, and
are happy to see GCC teams represented once again
through Al Ahli Saudi.”
Meet the Players…
Alkass Cup
“It is truly a delight to watch such
exciting football on the first day
of the fifth edition of the Al Kass
International Cup 2016. This year we
are also proud to welcome six new
teams to the tournament, and are
happy to see GCC teams represented
once again through Al Ahli Saudi.”
Essa Abdulla Al Hitmi
Chairman of the Organising Committee of Al Kass
International Cup
www.alkassinternationalcup.com
#Alkassu17
“To me, this tournament is like
the UEFA Champions League - the
highest and most prestigious
tournament possible. Ever since
I was little, I have been waiting
for this opportunity, and I’m so
happy to now have the chance to
play in a competition that many
others can only dream of doing.
Thanks to this opportunity, I will
gain more professional experience
and be able to gauge my level in
comparison to my peers from
other big clubs.”
“For us as players, the chance
to take part in the Al Kass
International Cup 2016 is a great
motivation, because we work
hard all season and are now very
focused on performing at our
best in this great tournament.
We hope to reach the final stages,
but either way it will no doubt be
a great experience for us to play
against some of the best clubs in
the world.”
Adrián de la Fuente
Real Madrid
Aladji Issa Diallo
Aspire Football Dreams
MATCH SCORES
7-0
F.C Internazionale
Milano
Shanghai Greenland
Shenhua FC
2-2
SL Benfica
3-1
Aspire Football
Dreams
FC Red Bull
Salzburg
Celtic Glasgow
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
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5
MILANESE MARVELS MAUL SHOT-SHY SHANGHAI
A confident and composed Inter
Milan side brushed aside Shanghai
Greenland in a one-sided game that
delivered on Al Kass International
Cup’s growing reputation for
providing thrills, spills…and lots and
lots of goals. The imperious Italians
helped themselves to seven without
reply, with the Chinese side unable to
manage a single shot on target.
Spanish footballing legend Xavi
Hernandez had performed the
tournament’s ceremonial kickoff before Milan got the match
underway.
In the 10th minute Shanghai made
a rare foray into the Italian half, a
strong run from Luo Fan Liu forcing
the first corner of the game. It was
expertly dealt with by Inter’s assured
back line, and a minute later Milan
were ahead.
Inter forward Loca Kerin chased a
chipped ball through the middle,
clipping over the advancing keeper
Kai Luan Lin and allowing Zate
Gnoukouri to apply the finishing touch
from less than a yard out.
Kerin nearly doubled the advantage
five minutes later, intercepting a
weak pass before shooting narrowly
over from outside the area. But the
Italians would not have to wait long
for a second goal. On 19 minutes a
spectacular first-time strike on the
half-volley from wide on the left by
Marco Sala arced high into the righthand corner, leaving keeper Lin with
no chance. It was only the second
goal of Al Kass 2016, but the Inter leftback’s wonder strike is undoubtedly a
contender for goal of the tournament.
The Chinese youngsters were
struggling to live with the precision
passing of an ascendant Inter, with
right-sided attacker Gnoukouri
proving a constant threat. As the
game approached the half-hour mark
Giulio MANGANO
Federico VALIETTI
Ryan Patrick NOLAN
Marco CAPONE
Marco SALA
Enrico CELEGHIN (C )
Tommaso SPAVIERO
Gaetano MARANZINO
Zate Wilfried GNOUKOURI
Luka KERIN
Giorgio VITALI
GK
MF
DF
FW
MF
MF
MF
FW
DF
DF
MF
Kai Yuan LIN
Hai Jian WANG
Lian Ming LIN (C )
You Qian HE
Lei JIANG
Zhen DING
Yang TAN
Jin Zheng XIE
Jing Qing WU
Yue ZHU
Luo Fan LIU
Inter Milano
The pattern of the game was quickly
established, with the technically
accomplished Italians playing pass
and move, while Shanghai’s highenergy approach looked to disrupt
their opponent’s rhythm. However,
the Chinese players were often left
chasing the lengthening shadows that
spread across Aspire Pitch 5 in the late
afternoon sun, as they struggled to
get the ball out of their own half.
With Inter captain Enrico Celeghin
pulling the strings from a deep-lying
central midfield position, the Milanese
never looked less than comfortable.
Still, in the opening stages chances
were at a premium, with the
Nerazzurri seemingly content to bide
their time.
GK
DF
DF
DF
DF
MF
MF
MF
FW
FW
FW
Zate Wilfried GNOUKOURI
MVP of the Match
Shanghai Greenland
he bagged a second goal, dribbling
into the Blue Devils’ area before
slotting a low shot home off the righthand post.
Five minutes later and Inter were four
goals to the good, after the Chinese
defence was sliced apart by a series
of short passes through the middle
before Kerin fired into the roof of the
net from 12 yards out.
With the opening period coming to an
end, Inter defender Federico Valetti
fell awkwardly under a challenge on
the edge of his own area, leaving
Milan to finish the half with only 10
men.
However, the centre back recovered
to emerge for the second 45,
although Inter did make two half-time
substitutions, with Mattia Poletto and
Roberto di Jenno replacing Gaetano
Maranzino and Sala respectively.
Meanwhile, midfielder Hao Chuan Liao
took the place of forward You Quan
He as Shanghai attempted to add
steel to their line-up.
But despite the personnel changes,
normal service was quickly resumed,
with Inter forcing three corners in the
opening five minutes of the second
period. They each came to nothing,
but provided another indicator of the
Italians’ complete dominance.
On 55 minutes, Inter made more
changes, with Nicolo Rossi replacing
the brilliant Gnoukouri and Giorgio
Vitalli making way for Nivolo Vai in
like-for-like swaps. Within a minute
of the double substitution, skipper
Celeghin had his reward for an
impressive display, evading several
challenges as he broke through the
middle before striking low into the
right hand corner.
With Inter now five goals to the good
and the result of the game beyond
doubt, the intensity of the contest
inevitably dropped. Shanghai’s plucky
efforts to make headway hit a brick
wall of defensive solidity and, as the
hour mark passed, the Chinese side
had been unable to muster a chance
of note, nor a shot on target.
of the area by substitute Pio Russo,
who waltzed through the Shanghai
backline before hammering home a
magnificent seventh.
The final scoreline did not flatter
the Italians, who outclassed their
opponents throughout. For Shanghai
Greenland, meanwhile, their
tournament debut vividly illustrated
the world-class standards that they
must quickly attain if they are to
progress at Al Kass 16.
As the game entered the final quarter,
Shanghai conjured their best chance
of the game, when Hai Jian Wang’s
accurate free kick from the right
found Liao, but his powerful header
flew high and wide.
The one-way traffic quickly resumed,
with Inter creating a host of
opportunities that they narrowly
failed to capitalise on thanks to some
last-ditch defending from the Chinese.
However, their resistance was once
again broken on 82 minutes when
Irish centre back Ryan Nolan rose high
to head home a corner from the left,
making the score 6-0.
There was still time for the Milanese
to add to their impressive tally. On
the 90th minute a corner from the
right was picked up on the left side
“Inter Milan is undoubtedly
one of the most prestigious
clubs in the world. Although
we made mistakes, it’s
important for us to connect
with high league teams
to fill in the gap of our
inexperience.”
Yi Bin Xu
Coach, Shanghai Greenland
The Experts Say…
Inter Milano VS Shanghai Greenland
Ed Graper - Managing Coach, Aspire Academy & Nicky
Summerbee – Al Kass Analyst
It was a dramatic first half with an Inter Milan goal in
the first 11 minutes. Zate Wilfried Gnoukouri opened
the score board, followed by a remarkable strike
from Marco Sala. Gnoukouri grabbed his second
goal putting more distance between the sides in an
extremely one sided first half with a fourth on target
strike from Inter’s Luka Kerin.
With a seamless start to the tournament there were
few things you could discredit Inter for, they utilised
their acres of space incredibly well. This year we are
witnessing a slightly more unusual Italian side, with
a visible lack of a characteristic Italian aggression.
Apart from a tremendous opening team
performance from the Italian side, who
demonstrated an organised and cohesive presence,
the first goal was netted far too easily for
Gnoukouri, who demonstrated his pace, accuracy
and calm demeanour. Even in this early phase of the
competition he has established himself as a player
to watch in the tournament, moving constantly,
placing himself in positions to receive the ball.
The first half materialised a perfect scenario for
Inter Milan, allowing Gianmario Corti the chance to
give his other players minutes and save energy for
key players. The 11 day tournament is set to really
test player stamina, and this is where experience
in the Al Kass tournament really shows, with Inter
Milan utilising this knowledge due to their previous
attendance at the tournament.
The Italian attackers were given plenty of space to
manoeuvre and revealing a productive partnership
between Valietti and Gnoukouri who were left
unchallenged by the Shanghai players.
It was a very important half time chat for the
Shanghai side who lacked voice and passion
during the first half of play; the apprehension and
disappointment tangible as players returned to
the changing rooms. The Chinese side clearly were
not sure how to approach the game against the
dominant Italian side lacking the desire to press
forward and preferring to sit back and ball watch.
Undoubtedly, the Italian side set the quality of goal
standard incredibly high. Marco Sala in particular has
to be a contender for one of the top three of the
tournament. Irrespective of the score, the stunning
performance from the Inter side was an invaluable
learning curve for the Chinese team. Luka Kerin
revealed the Inter Milan side would stay humble but
he was very happy for the goal and the overall win
which was an excellent start to the tournament.
Shanghai were also guilty of making several costly
mistakes and there was a disastrous hesitation from
Kai Yuan Lin the Shanghai goalkeeper which cost
the side their first goal. Nevertheless in the face of
pressure from the Inter side, Shanghai could still
potentially benefit from the opportunity which
gives the Chinese coach a great chance to see what
players really have the hunger to win, which is a
revealing character building exercise.
Inter Milan continued to lay down the bench
mark in the second half of the opening match of
the Al Kass tournament, with three more goals
from Enrico Celegin, Ryan Patrick Nolan and Pio
Francesco Russo. As a club with such great history
and tradition, the side surely have one foot in the
knockout stages inflicting one of the biggest defeats
of this tournament on the Shanghai Greenland side
and establishing themselves as one of the favourites
for this tournament.
Shanghai Greenland also have a lot of work to do in
terms of attacking for the rest of the tournament.
“This game has been a great start
to the Al Kass tournament. We know
we’re going to face a great number
of challenging opponents especially
Aspire Football Dreams who are a very
strong side.”
Gianmario Corti
Coach, Inter Milan
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
6
7
Benfica and Aspire Football Dreams Share
Spoils in Al Kass Classic
The first half drew to a close with the
scoreline goalless, but this fascinating
contest burst into life as the second
period unfolded. With just two
minutes gone, Karamako robbed Silva
before sprinting clear down the right
and squaring for captain Nyanje to
slot home, low to the left, from eight
yards out.
Aspire had clearly come into the
second half with a game plan
intended to test the mobility of
Benfica’s backline and, within seconds
of the restart, Loureiro was yellow
carded for impeding Nyanje as he
sprinted towards the area. From the
resultant dead ball, Souleymane Aw
chipped narrowly over. With their
next attack, Nyanje once again drew a
foul from Loureiro on the edge of the
box, but Aspire wasted the chance to
extend their lead, with the free kick
drilled straight into the Benfica wall.
Aspire’s superior fitness levels were
now beginning to tell, as they chased
down every loose ball and attempted
to pressure the Glorioso defence
into making mistakes. This tactic was
clearly paying dividends in the case
of Louriero and, on the hour mark, he
was withdrawn in favour of Demitrio
Carvalho, with Benfica manager Luis
Araujo perhaps fearful that the giant
centre back’s yellow card may soon
become red.
Four goals, two missed penalties,
and countless chances illuminated a
gripping second game at Al Kass 2016.
After the one-sided goal fest of Game
1, the match-up between Benfica and
Aspire Football Dreams was a far
more evenly contested affair, and an
equally entertaining one.
Chances were few and far between
in the opening stages, as both sides
sought to get the measure of one
another. Lining up in their famous red
and white strip, Benfica’s approach
was epitomised by man-mountain
centre back Goncarlo Loureiro,
compensating for a lack of pace
with a strong physical presence
and positional sense. Aspire’s early
attempts to play their quick forwards
in were therefore frustrated.
Benfica right back Diego Vilela was
fortunate to escape a booking on 14
minutes for scything down Aboubakar
Karamoko on the left side of the area.
The chance came to nothing, but
Aspire were by now growing into the
game.
And, on 19 minutes they should have
been ahead, when Karamoko just
failed to beat keeper Celton Biai from
eight yards out. Seconds later, the
Benfica keeper did brilliantly once
again to deny Sotigui Diabagate from
point-blank range.
The Portuguese’ combative approach
was resulting in a succession of fouls
conceded, with referee Abdulaziz
Mousa doing well to keep tempers
from fraying. However, the Reds
almost went ahead on 27 minutes
from a dead ball situation of their
own, when’s Diego Batista’s free
kick from the right was met with a
diving header from Pedro Correia
that flashed just wide. The chance
signalled a period of dominance for
the Portuguese side, as they worked
hard to keep the ball and deny space
to their opponents.
However, Aspire displayed admirable
focus, working tirelessly to cancel
out Benfica’s attacking intent while
fashioning several openings of their
own, especially down the right flank,
with lightning-quick winger Karamoko
regularly troubling left-back Jorge
Silva with his electric pace.
The replacement defender was
quickly called into action, sliding
in skilfully to deny Quadri before
he could get his shot away. On 64
minutes, a wonderful burst of pace
from Nyanje left Carvalho for dead,
but keeper Biai was once again alert
to deny Aspire’s captain from close
range.
Seconds later, Carvalho turned from
villain to hero when he charged into
the opposition area and went down
under a challenge that was judged
illegal. The referee pointed to the
spot, but keeper Abdul Nurudeen
produced a wonderful save, diving full
stretch to his left to keep out Batista’s
well-struck penalty.
Nurudeen’s heroics galvanised Aspire
and, on 71 minutes, they doubled
their advantage. Daniel Andrade cut
in powerfully from the right before
feeding substitute Konan N’dri, who
hammered home from the edge of
the area, Biai’s despairing touch not
enough to keep the ball out.
Lesser teams may have crumbled in
the face of such an onslaught, but
Benfica did the opposite. Just one
minute later, following a goalmouth
scramble in the Aspire area, Carlos
Castro blasted home, sparking
scenes of elation among the fervent
Portuguese support in the stands,
and signalling a frenetic finale to an
absorbing game.
This approach soon paid off as, with
time running out, Benfica adopted
the route one tactic. Man-of-thematch Biaa blasted the ball long from
a drop kick, Correia headed on, and
substitute striker Ricardo Campos
held off a desperate challenge to tuck
the ball home. The goal may have
been against the run of play, but the
Portuguese team, and their raucous
support, certainly did not mind.
Three minutes of injury time were
allotted, indicating the highly physical
nature of the contest, but neither side
could find a winner. Aspire Football
Dreams may have felt hard done to by
the draw, but nobody could deny the
potency of Benfica’s team spirit.
“It was a tough start to
the tournament. Aspire
was a very strong side to
come up against in the
first match, but it’s a great
character building exercise
for the team and a great
opportunity for our players
to develop.”
Luis Manuel Araujo
Coach, Benfica
Celton Anssumane BIAI
Diogo Miguel VILELA DAVID
Jorge Filipe SOARES SILVA
Andre Alexandre DE OLIVEIRA
Edi Mauricio SEMEDO
Diego Rafael BATISTA
Pedro ALVES CORREIA
Tiago Filipe DANTAS (C )
Goncalo Joao LOUREIRO
Joao Goncalo VEIGA FONSECA
Diogo Miguel DOS SANTOS
GK
DF
DF
MF
FW
MF
FW
DF
DF
MF
DF
Abdul Manf NURUDEEN
Robert KUMADEY
Souleymane AW
David AGBO
Aboubakar KARAMOKO
Mohamed Katana NYANJE (C )
Muritala Abiola QUADRI
Salim DIABY
Carlos Manuel CASTRO
Sotigui Bibis DIABAGATE
Aladji Issa DIALLO
Benfica
Almost from the restart, Aspire had
a gilt-edged chance to put the result
beyond doubt. Livewire N’dri evaded
Silva’s despairing lunge and burst into
the area from the left before drawing
a foul from Carvalho. However, Nyanje
could not convert the penalty that
followed, shooting wide of the right
hand post, the only false move he had
made all evening.
With 10 minutes remaining, substitute
Carvalho, who had certainly
experienced an eventful 20 minutes
since his introduction, was himself
almost subbed after coming out
second best following a clash of
heads. However, typifying Benfica’s
never-say-die approach, he recovered
quickly to resume his place at centre
back.
GK
DF
DF
MF
FW
MF
FW
MF
DF
DF
DF
Celton Anssumane BIAI
MVP of the match
Aspire Football Dreams
The Experts Say…
Benfica VS Aspire Football Dreams
Ed Graper - Managing Coach, Aspire Academy & Nicky
Summerbee – Al Kass Analyst
In an exciting but frustrating first half, both Benfica
and Aspire Football Dreams failed to light up the
score board. A more dominant Aspire Football
Dreams could have been accused of lacking a little
composure, failing to capitalise on their effort to get
the ball in a shooting position.
Aspire Football Dreams captain, Mohammed Katana
Njange, scored the first goal of the match in the
48th minute, which ignited a determination in
Benfica, lifting them with the help of enthusiastic
Pedro Alves Correia. A penalty for Benfica in the
66th minute had the potential to be the equaliser,
but was brilliantly saved by the Qatari side keeper,
Abdul Manf Nurudeen.
Goncalo Joao Loureiro proved himself to be one to
watch for the remainder of the tournament, as did
Portugese goalie, Celton Anssumane Biai, who could
have been used far more effectively to get the ball
up the pitch allowing Benfica to attack with greater
support.
Edi Mauricio Semedo on the right side needed more
quality crosses to make an effect on the game, with
team mates failing to make the most of his forward
position. Daniel Chammorro Andrade made his first
real match impression in the 71st minute, scoring
an invaluable goal for the Portuguese side. Ricardo
Manuel Campos opened up the play with a goal in
the 85th minute.
Taking the game to Benfica at the very start of
the second half, Aspire Football Dreams clearly
demonstrated a desire for more goals. The pace
of the Qatari side easily broke down the Benfica
defence forcing the Portugese side to work
extremely hard and Aspire Football Dreams looked
incredibly confident the further into the game they
played.
As a player Aboubakar Karamoko made his presence
felt, proving to be an effective play maker for the
Qatari side. Isaac Nuhu came on for Karamoko for
the Aspire Football Dream side in the 61st minute. As
a strong tournament contender, Aspire started to
find their pace going forward using their flank more
effectively. This was assisted by their relentless
fitness and athleticism which clearly gave them an
edge.
The second half proved to be especially exciting
with penalties, substitutions and aggressive play.
Both sides benefitted immensely from strategic
substitutions in the second half, making adjustments
to find a more productive rhythm. Play really began
to open up in the last 15 minutes, with captivating
play from both teams. Nevertheless, Benfica never
gave up and were worthy owners of an equaliser.
“Benfica are one of the best teams
here. Everyone has their individual
strengths but we showed that we had
pace and skill on the ball, we played
well in the start of the second-half but
we made mistakes allowing Benfica
to come back and equalise. We played
well today and I’m proud of the team,
we always try to perform to the best
of our ability and I believe we will do
well in the tournament.”
Alexandre Garcia Canedo
Coach, Aspire Football Dreams
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
8
9
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
10
11
Red Bull Find Energy to
Overcome Celtic
GK
DF
DF
DF
MF
MF
FW
MF
FW
DF
MF
Felix WILFING
Alexander BURGSTALLER
Benjamin WALLQUIST
Luca MEISL (C )
Dominik STUMBERGER
Philipp STURM
Abdelahim Randy MONTIE
Can CAKIR
Nikolas MEISTER
Julian Peter GOELLES
Kenan KIRIM
GK
DF
MF
FW
MF
MF
FW
MF
DF
DF
FW
Aidan Michael MCADAMS
Wallace Robert DUFFY
Lewis Scott BELL (C )
Keiran Patrick CAMPBELL
Ross MCLAUGHLIN
Robbie Guthrie DEAS
Michael Andrew JOHNSTON
Broque WATSON
Stephen John WELSH
Daniel CHURCH
Ciaran Daniel DIVER
FC Red Bull SALZBURG
Abdelahim Randy MONTIE
MVP of the match
Celtic Glasgow
The Experts Say…
Red Bull Salzburg emerged
triumphant against Celtic in the final
match of a gripping opening day at Al
Kass 2016, following a closely fought
contest that could have gone either
way.
The Austrians got the game
underway, but it was the young
Scots who should have taken an early
lead. With just a minute on the clock,
Michael Johnston fed strike partner
Ciaran Diver through the middle, but
his deft side-footed effort was well
saved by keeper Felix Wilfing low
to his left. It was the only clear-cut
chance of the opening 10 minutes, as
both sides worked patiently to find
their rhythm.
However, the understanding between
Celtic’s front two was becoming
apparent, and they combined well
once again on 12 minutes, with Wilfing
bravely saving at the feet of Diver
following Johnston’s accurate low
cross from the right.
On 14 minutes, Salzburg fashioned
their first real opportunity, when the
classy Can Cakir gathered the ball 30
yards out before smashing a curling
effort just beyond the top left corner.
With both teams seemingly well
matched, chances such as these were
at a premium. Instead, a fascinating
tactical battle ensued, particularly in
midfield where Red Bull’s Domonik
Stumberger and Celtic skipper Lewis
Bell vied for supremacy.
The stalemate was broken just after
the half-hour mark, when Red Bull’s
Kanan Kerim embarked on a strong
run through the middle before
threading a pass into the path of
Abdelahim Montie. The powerful
number nine made no mistake, taking
the ball in his stride before slotting
home coolly from close range.
The opening goal sparked a spell
of dominance from Salzburg, and
the young Austrians’ attacking play
became increasingly coherent as half
time approached. In response, Celtic
occasionally resorted to a long-ball
approach in an effort to bypass the
midfield, to the evident displeasure
of striker Johnston, who exhorted
his teammates to retain their tactical
composure.
Stumberger went close with a longrange effort shortly before half time
but, in keeping with a rather low-key
opening period, it did not test Celtic
keeper Aidan McAdams.
The Red Bull team were out early
for the second half, and quickly
demonstrated that they remained
in control of the contest as play got
underway again. Their well-organised
defence, led by dominant captain
Luca Meisl, was rarely troubled by
the Bhoys’ frontline, and it was the
Austrians who continued creating the
better chances.
On 55 minutes, number seven Keiran
Campbell was withdrawn in favour of
Christian Antoniazzi, as Celtic sought
to inject greater urgency into their
approach play. But it was Salzburg
who showed more fluency in attack,
keeping possession well as they
worked to prise open the Scottish
defence, with Cakir going close from
distance just after the hour mark.
Montie remained a constant threat,
and on 70 minutes he notched his
second goal, his low drive powering
into the left-hand corner after Celtic
had failed to clear their lines.
It was already clear, though, that
the Bhoys team possessed a fierce
determination, and their industry
was rewarded on 74 minutes when
Diver powered home a header from a
corner on the right.
Newly energised, Celtic fought anew
for every ball as they searched for a
precious equaliser. But their search
soon proved futile when, on 79
minutes, Red Bull’s Vesel Demaku
beat right back Stephen Welsh before
delivering a telling cross for Dominik
Szoboszlai. The substitute had been
on the pitch for a matter of minutes,
but made no mistake, lashing a
superbly controlled volley high into
the net to make it 3-1.
Despite Celtic’s best efforts, they
could not find a way to reduce the
deficit, and Red Bull ultimately ran out
deserved winners. The Austrian may
have come into the tournament as
one of the less fancied sides, but after
this display of skill and composure,
there is a sense that they could go far
at Al Kass 2016.
“Obviously we’re
disappointed with the
result, I know Ciaran
Diver will be especially
disappointed with his
missed opportunity. We had
a game plan and although
we were under pressure
from the first whistle, we
always had a chance. We
have a lot to go away and
think about but we’ll be
more equipped for our next
game.”
Michael O’Halloran
Coach, Celtic
FC Red Bull SALZBURG VS Celtic Glasgow
Ed Graper - Managing Coach, Aspire Academy & Nicky
Summerbee – Al Kass Analyst
FC Red Bull Salzburg led Celtic Glasgow one goal to
nil in the first half, with an excellent technical game
featuring compact and intricate play from both
sides.
In what was an enjoyable first half for Red Bull,
Celtic struggled to find their momentum. The
Austrian side drove play forward speeding up the
game, leaving Celtic lacking the ability to keep the
pressure consistently matched.
Great balls were delivered by Alexander Burgstaller
for Red Bull which kept the play upbeat and on the
offence, enabling Abdelahim Randy Montie to score
the first goal of the game with ease.
Defensively, Celtic made timing mistakes allowing
Red Bull to infiltrate their defence repeatedly. Celtic
needed to make a visible impression in the second
half, deciding to push ‘big’ players forward to make
an impact against the Austrian side.
Good defending by Wallace Robert Duffy for Celtic
also made a marked difference in the hour stage of
the match, holding off an Austrian attack.
Frustratingly for the Austrian Coach Marco Rose,
Red Bull didn’t extend their advantage until Montie
got his second goal of the game in the 70th minute,
which settled the side with a two nil cushion.
Both sides utilised substitutions, making strategic
decisions to change the dynamic of play in the
second half. Kyle Barr a Celtic substitution for Ross
Mclaughlin, made an immediate impact on the game
while a double substitution was made in the 72nd
minute for Red Bull.
Celtic showcased a slightly younger squad, which
may have proved to be influential in allowing Red
Bull to press forward with a more dominant style of
play, striding forward until the last whistle.
Three minutes additional time made little difference
to the two nil lead for the assertive Austrian side,
which awarded the Red Bull side with a welldeserved three points.
“We are very happy to win our first
game in the Al Kass tournament. We
played well but lacked concentration
making technical mistakes which
could have proved to be more costly.
Every team presents a challenge
and although we won today we are
aware of the threats posed by the
opposition.”
Marco Rose
Coach, FC Redbull Salzburg
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
12
13
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
14
15
TODAY’S MATCHES
TOMORROW’S MATCHES
CLUB LEGENDS
Paris Saint-Germain
Each day the Al Kass daily newsletter
profiles some of the best players
ever to have represented one of the
tournament’s participating teams.
Real Madrid CF
Paris Saint-Germain
15.35
Aspire P4
Aspire P4
Aspire Football
Dreams
On this Day
February 6
1910 Inter Milan beat A.C. Milan 5-0 in a Serie
A match at the Via Bronzetti stadium.
This game remains on record as one of
the biggest ever wins of the Derby della
Madonnina.
1949 Inter Milan drew 4-4 with arch-rivals, A.C.
Milan. A record eight goals were scored in
this Derby della Madonnina.
1994 Benfica defeated FC Porto 2-0 thanks to
goals scored by Brazilian Aílton Delfino and
local legend Rui Costa.
2011 Celtic F.C. drew 2-2 with Rangers in the fifth
round of the 2010-11 Scottish Cup. The Old
Firm Derby was played at Ibrox Stadium in
Glasgow. Celtic went on to win the replay,
and the cup, beating Motherwell F.C. 3-0 in
the final.
2011 Inter Milan beat A.S. Roma 5-3 in a classic
Serie A game at their home San Siro
Stadium.
2014 New owners of Shanghai Shenhua,
Greenland Holding Group Company
Limited, announced the club’s name was
being changed to ‘Shanghai Greenland
Shenhua FC’.
Pedro ‘The Eagle
of the Azores’
Pauleta
Al Ahli
17.45
SL Benfica
Aspire P5
Paris Saint-Germain
Aspire P4
Kashiwa Reysol
19.55
Estudiantes de la Plata
15.35
Aspire Academy
Shanghai Greenland
17.45
Celtic Glasgow
Aspire P5
As a Portuguese national, Pedro Miguel Pauleta
is a football legend in both his home country and
destination club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Kashiwa Reysol
19.55
Aspire P5
Born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island in the
Azores, Pauleta started his career at youth level
playing for local clubs on his native island. He signed
his first professional contract with Clube União
Micaelense in 1994, before alternating between
various clubs in his early career.
After being pursued by the likes of Newcastle
United, Aston Villa and Sunderland, the unsettled
Pauleta made a strategic move into the French
Ligue 1 in 2000, joining FC Girondins de Bordeaux. In
his first season Pauleta enjoyed an impressive run,
ending as the club’s top scorer with 26 goals and
Ligue 1’s second leading scorer overall.
Top Scorer
In the 2001–02 campaign, Pauleta continued to
influence to French league becoming Ligue 1’s top
scorer with 22 goals. His name was also one of
the 50 players shortlisted for the 2002 European
Footballer of the Year award (Ballon d’Or), with only
one other player from the French league making
the honours list. As the spotlight on the Portuguese
player increased, his notable performances
earned him interest from international managers
including Manchester City’s manager Kevin Keegan.
Nevertheless, Pauleta decided to entertain offers
closer to home, desiring to stay in the French
Ligue 1.
Pauleta joined Paris Saint-Germain F.C. ahead of the
2003–04 season, signing a three-year contract deal.
Pauleta’s style and skill made an immediate impact,
helping the capital side achieve its first silverware in
six years by scoring the only goal of the 2004 French
Cup final against LB Châteauroux. The Portugese
Centre Forward continued his goal scoring exploits,
netting 18 times in 37 contests, positioning PSG
second in the league.
Fan Favourite
On the 2nd April 2006, Pauleta scored his first
hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain, ironically against
former club Bordeaux, winning the game 3–1 at
home. Despite reported interest from defending
French champions Olympique Lyonnais, Pauleta
stayed at Paris-Saint Germain to help them clinch
the 2006 French Cup. He scored his 99th and 100th
goals for PSG in truly memorable fashions, off a
fantastic volley and a textbook header respectively.
At the end of the 2007–08 season, Pauleta decided
to retire from professional football, playing his last
match on the 17th May 2008, aged 37. In 2010, as
Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time top scorer, Pauleta
was voted the club’s best player ever by fans,
ahead of other iconic historical players such as Rai,
Ronaldinho, Suzic and Weah.
‘The Eagle of the Azores’
• Remembered for his
effortless scoring ability,
Pauleta’s goal celebration
of spreading his arms
like wings became iconic
among fans, earning him
the nickname of ‘The Eagle
of the Azores’ - reflecting
the emblem of his native
homeland.
• Pauleta remained the
team’s top scorer of all
time with 109 goals in 211
matches, until the record
was broken by Zlatan
Ibrahimović in October
2015.
• Post retirement, Pauleta
stayed on at PSG in
an ambassadorial and
supervisory role - helping
to scout, train and advise
young forwards at the PSG
academy.
Al Kass International Cup
Saturday 6 Feb, 2016
16
Best banner winner
Best banner winner
GROUP B
GROUP A
GROUP C
GROUP D
Inter Milano
Benfica
FC Red Bull Salzburg
Paris Saint-Germain
Shanghai Greenland
Kashiwa Reysol
Celtic Glasgow
Real Madrid
Aspire Academy
Aspire Football Dreams
Estudiantes De La Plata
Al Ahli
DATE
NO
TIME
VENUE
Saturday
06 FEB 2016
4
5
6
Real Madrid
Shanghai Greenland
Kashiwa Reysol
Paris Saint Germain
Aspire Academy
Benfica
15.35
17.45
19.55
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Sunday
07 FEB 2016
7
8
9
Celtic Glasgow
Paris Saint Germain
Aspire Football Dreams
Estudiantes De La Plata
Al-Ahli
Kahiwa Reysol
15.35
17.45
19.55
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
Monday
08 FEB 2016
10
11
12
Al-Ahli
Aspire Academy
Estudiantes De La Plata
Real Madrid
Inter Milano
FC Red Bull Salzburg
15.35
17.45
19.55
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Tuesday
09 FEB 2016
13
14
Position 10
Position 12
Position 9
Position 11
15.35
18.00
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
Wednesday
10 FEB 2016
15
16
1st group A
1st Group C
2nd Group C
2nd Group A
15.35
18.00
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Thursday
11 FEB 2016
17
18
1st Group B
1st Group D
2nd Group D
2nd Group B
15.35
18.00
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
Friday
12 FEB 2016
19
20
Loser 16
Loser 15
Loser 18
Loser 17
15.35
18.00
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Saturday
13 FEB 2016
21
22
Winner 16
Winner 15
Winner 18
Winner 17
15.35
18.00
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
Sunday
14 FEB 2016
23
24
Loser 19
Winner 19
Loser 20 (Position 8 & 7)
Winner 20 (Position 6 & 5)
15.35
18.00
Pitch 4
Pitch 4
Monday
15 FEB 2016
25
26
Loser 21
Winner 21
Loser 22 (Position 4 & 3)
Winner 22 (Position 2 & 1)
15.35
18.15
Pitch 5
Pitch 5
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