26 Mar 2017
Doha, 26 March 2017. Aspire Academy U-13 side collected maximum points against formidable opponents from Europe to win the latest Tri-Series football tournament held at Aspire Academy. Rashid Al-Abdulla and Abdullah Feroun struck scored in the first half as Aspire beat Germany club side Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the opening match. Spanish club side Atletico Madrid got the better of the Germans to set up a winner takes all clash with Aspire. On Wednesday 22nd March the hosts Aspire battled it out with the Spanish boys and what a match it turned out to be. It was another super strike from Rashid Al-Abdulla in the 17th minute that gave his side something to defend, and defend they did for the great part of the game as Atletico searched for the equalizer. Aspire bravely held out to win 1-0 and clinch the series.
The series also featured the 2002 (U-15) and 2003 (U-14) age groups and Atletico proved too strong in these categories winning both easily but the brave Aspire U-13 prevent a Spanish whitewash.
An elated Aspire Academy U-13 head coach, Filipe Sanchez Mateos was magnanimous in victory while paying tribute to his charges, “Atletico are a top side and you saw how our boys had to focus and work so hard to achieve this win. This is what we look for from this competition, such tough challenging games and to overcome and succeed the way this team has brings so much satisfaction to the enormous work that so many people put into preparing these teams. I am so pleased for this team they have taken on really good teams in Eintracht Frankfurt and Atletico and to win this series is just fantastic,” concluded Filipe Sanchez Mateos
Speaking after the tournament Carlos Cuesta Assistant coach Atletico Madrid U-14 , said , “ This is our first time here playing in the Tri-series and it has been a fantastic experience for the boys and us coaches, We encounter different playing styles from our opponents and made us play out of our comfort zone. Personally l have been impressed by Aspire Academy philosophy to football development and one can only wish them well for the future and l will certainly be watching and following the progress on Aspire and Qatar football which is being built from such a firm and well thought out foundation. It’s good to win matches and our boys will go away happy but there are pleasing and positives things for Aspire Academy teams to take from this series, they should keep working hard , victory will come their way for sure.
The Tri-Series season continues with LA Galaxy from USA and Olympiacos from Greece the visitors from 26th – 29th March and playing in the 1999 and 2001 generations against their equivalent from Aspire Academy.