19 Jan 2014
Doha January 19, 2014. Aspire International cruised into the semi-finals of the Al Kass International Cup with an emphatic 4-0 victory over local rivals Aspire Qatar.
In a game dubbed the ‘Doha Derby’, braces from Funsho Bamgboye and man-of-the-match Alasana Manneh maintained International’s 100% record in the competition.
Making four changes to a side that had beaten Porto 6-2 last week, Aspire International Head Coach Sergine Dia chose to deploy Bamgboye - the scorer of two goals on Thursday - ahead of Orgeness Mollel and also granted starting berths to Abdul Conte, Naiziru Yunasa and Muritala Quadri.
Quadri’s selection looked a particularly inspired decision as the young forward troubled the Aspire Qatar back line with a series of powerful runs into the box during the game’s opening stages.
For Aspire Qatar meanwhile, Oscar Fernandez opted for just the two changes, awarding call-ups to midfielders Nasser A Alahrak and Fahd Ahmed for the first time in the tournament.
With a noisy home crowd creating a carnival atmosphere, both sides started tentatively, evenly matched and cancelling each other out in the early stages. For Aspire Qatar, playmaker Khalid Muneer Mazeed showed the occasional flash of brilliance, on one occasion beating two players with reverse step-overs as he advanced down the left touchline.
There was little to choose between the teams until the 17th minute, when Aspire International broke the deadlock. Advancing along the left flank, wingback Issa Traore made a charging run into the Qatar half before pulling back to Bamgboye inside the box. Firing to score his third of the tournament, the number 21 slotted past Qatari keeper Abdulrahman Al-Ali to make the score 1-0.
Aspire International began to dominate proceedings. With full back Moussa Wague combining well down the right with Quadri, the winger was finding space with alarming regularity, as International managed nine shots on target during the first half. Aspire Qatar will have been happy to have kept the score at 1-0 going into the break.
The second half began in a similar fashion and, on 47 minutes, the Group B champions hit the woodwork when Quadri combined with Manneh to set up substitute Famoussa Kanoute, whose powerful half-volley smacked against the crossbar.
Ten minutes later, International squandered another chance to double their advantage, with Bamgboye heading into the arms of Al-Ali after an accurate cross from Traore.
Increasingly frustrated at his side’s profligacy in front of goal, Sergine Dia looked to the substitute bench for options and, in the game’s 67th minute, off came Abdul Conte and on came Lawrence Effiong.
Two minutes later and Aspire International scored the second goal that their fine approach play had warranted. Wague rode two challenges as he advanced into the area from the right before cutting back for Manneh, who finished calmly with a simple tap-in.
On a sunny day in Doha, Aspire fans provided a constant backing track of singing and drumming, and the volume increased still further a minute later as International scored a third. Nigerian Bamgboye received the ball inside the box before letting rip with a powerful strike that took a slight deflection off Khalid Al-Naimit on the way into the net.
Now certain of their semi-final qualification, Alasana scored his second of the game, and one of the goals of the tournament, in the 84th minute. Receiving a cutback 25 yards from goal, the midfielder hammered home into the top right corner to make it 4-0. The magnificent strike rounded off a glorious team effort from International and an excellent man-of-the-match performance for Manneh.
Aspire International can now rest until Tuesday before their semi-final clash with Brazilian holders Fluminense. Meanwhile, Aspire Qatar will look to sign off their campaign in style on Monday with a glamour tie against FC Barcelona.