14 Feb 2019
Doha, 13 February 2019. Hosts Aspire Academy narrowly missed out on playing their second Al Kass International Cup final after a (2-2) 4-1 post match penalties loss to AS Roma on Wednesday 13th February night at Aspire. The pulsating semi-final had seen Aspire come from two goals down in the first half to restore parity in the 2nd and almost snatched the winner right at the end of regulation time.
The Italians seemed to be cruising to their fourth victory of the tournament when they scored through Nicola Zalewski and Mory Bamba fired home from a tight angle. The Italians were cruising and utterly dominant in the first half.
Upon resumption of play Aspire turned the tables on their opponents and had the crowd in a frenzy when man of the match Mekki Tombari scored twice in four second-half minutes to earn a draw and set up the tournament’s first penalty shoot-out.
Roma were clinical and scored all four of their spot kicks but Aspire were denied twice by Italian goalkeeper Pietro Boer who saved from Naif Alhadhrami and Tombari to send Roma into Friday15t February final against Glasgow Rangers of Scotland.