20 Jan 2014
Doha January 20, 2014. FC Barcelona’s under 16 side returned to winning ways with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Aspire Qatar on Monday.
Performing in front of a lively Aspire Zone crowd, the Catalans gave themselves a two-goal cushion going into half time with goals from Javier Duran and Gyeolhee Jang.
In the second period, a 70th minute red card and two late strikes ensured there was plenty of action all the way through to the game’s final minutes.
Fresh from an unfortunate 2-0 defeat to Fluminense on Saturday, Barca produced a pragmatic, disciplined display that extinguished any lingering doubts about their ability to finish opposition teams off.
Yet, despite winning the game by a two-goal margin, FCB were nowhere near as comfortable as the final score suggested, and were matched tackle-for-tackle, shot-for-shot by a determined Aspire Qatar team who gave as good as they got.
Two players of considerable technical talent, Khalid Muneer Mazeed and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, have shown during this tournament that they are capable of scoring against even the very best sides. On Monday, however, an assured central defensive partnership between Carles Casanovas and Jordi Calsapeu kept the duo quiet for much of the game.
Barcelona meanwhile looked dangerous from the first whistle.
Putting his side ahead on 17 minutes, Javier Duran displayes a poacher’s instinct by reacting quickly to divert Casanovas’ misfired volley into the net with his head.
Keen to avoid the profligacy they had shown against Fluminense, Barca doubled their advantage ten minutes later when a brilliant cross from winger Daniel Cabrera found Gyeolhee Jang loitering at the back post to tap-in with ease.
Two goals to the good, Barcelona occasionally appeared to be riding their luck as both sides engaged in tussles for possession. As the first half drew to a close, powerful efforts from Abdulrasheed Ibrahim and Eisa Ghaderi forced Barca keeper Sergi Herrara into diving saves, while an effort from Khalid Mazeed sailed just wide of the post.
Coming back after the interval, however, Barcelona set out to put the game to bed.
Keen to make use of his side’s pace going forward, Barca Head Coach Enrique San Juan deployed Daniel Cabrera and David Olmo along the wings in a tactical move that seemed to trouble the Qatari full-backs.
Noting some tired legs amongst his team, Aspire Qatar Head Coach Oscar Fernandez opted for midfield player Ahmed Al-Meghessib in an attempt to get his side back into the proceedings.
Far from steadying the Aspire Qatar ship, however, Al-Meghessib’s appearance was curtailed within five minutes after the midfielder made two late challenges in quick succession to earn himself a red card in the game’s 70th minute.
Now down to ten men, any chance of an Aspire fightback was dealt a hammer blow a minute later when Barcelona registered their third of the game.
Taking advantage of the increased space now available along the Qatar back line, Spanish winger Carles Perez broke along the flank before delivering a testing ball into the box. Sergi Mateo was on hand to dispatch a skilful back-heel past Al-Ali to make it 3-0 to Barcelona.
Down but not out, Aspire eventually pulled one back in the 87th minute, much to the joy of their assembled fans. Firing in his side’s first set-piece goal of the tournament, Hazem Sheheta struck from 35 yards, with Sergi Herrara well beaten.
It may have been a consolation goal for the Qataris but it was one whose significance resonated. Ten men down, and playing their second game in 24 hours, Aspire had been the equals of Barcelona for much of the match and, even after conceding a third, the brave Qataris had continued to test their opposition.
With the game ending 3-1, Aspire Qatar will now hope to claim seventh place as they take on Kashiwa Resyol on Wednesday. Barcelona meanwhile can still finish fifth should they beat Manchester City later the same day.