Vissel Kobe and Al-Sadd gave a great account of themselves when the clubs met each other at Jeddah last night in the quarter finals of the AFC Champions League Elite.
Six goals were scored, and all of them were a brilliant exhibition of sublime football and individual skill. Roberto Firmino and Rafa Mujica, playing for the Qatari Champions Al-Sadd, had a day to remember.
Mujica opened up the scoring after a superb pass from Akram Afif sliced up the Kobe defence, and the Spaniard ensured a fine finish. Vissel Kobe answered in kind with a goal from Osaka. Both teams were tied at 1-1 at the halfway mark.
In a five-minute second-half burst from Al-Sadd, Mujica netted his second with an incredible volley in the 61st minute, and then Firmino placed one skilfully into the Kobe net to give Al-Sadd a 3-1 lead. It appeared as if the match was done, but the Japanese had other ideas.
Vissel Kobe kept up the pressure on Al-Sadd, and then Ideguchi scored in the 74th minute to make it 3-2. It was a phenomenal header that had incredible pace and exquisite direction. Barsham in goal had no chance. It was the goal of the match for me.
With 16 minutes to defend, Al-Sadd were up to it and with just 3 minutes added to regulation time, the match was almost in the Qatari bag. But the Japanese did not give up till the last second, and against all odds, equalised in the final second of the match. Kudos to their grit and determination.
The extra time could not break the deadlock as the match went into a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out. Al-Sadd players were pushed again and were barely up on their feet. The match had completely drained them.
The pressure was on, and Claudinho missed his spot kick for Al-Sadd. Jean Patric had the responsibility of scoring to put Kobe into the semi-finals, and he did not miss. Kobe won the match 5-4 on penalties. Al-Sadd were heartbroken; they had the match in the bag and should have wrapped it up, but it was not to be.
A great exhibition of brilliant football from both sides.
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