JEDDAH, 1 January 2008 — It was a match to remember and the memories will linger long after the celebrations had died down for it was one of best football finals ever played in the history of the competition.
Also, lessons were learned that no matter by how many goals down there is always time to come back and win.
This Al-Jazirah of UAE happily found out as they beat Al-Ittifaq on penalty kicks after both teams tied on aggregate score last night in the Gulf Clubs Cup championship final at Muhammad ibn Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The never-say-die Jazirah squad overturned the 2-0 first leg deficit by winning the second leg match 3-1 that leveled the aggregate score at 3-3.
The match went to penalties after both teams were tied after the extra and stoppage times. And Jazirah on this night were kings on their home turf winning the penalty shootout 7-6 and keeping the cup in Abu Dhabi.
Thus ended Ittifaq’s bid to win consecutive titles and fourth overall in the prestigious tournament among the Gulf neighbors.
It took Al-Jazirah two rocket shots in the regulation 90 minutes to get back into the match pulling back the 2 goals Ittifaq had banked at the start of the match.
Keen not to disappoint the local fans Jazirah were a totally different side from the one that lost the first match and not an easy target that Dammam-based Ittifaq thought they were.
The title was the first in team history for Al-Jazirah which was formed in 1974. They were the third UAE team to win the title after Al-Ain and Al-Shabab.
The UAE launched an aggressive game looking for early goal. Their efforts quickly paid off in the 11th minute with a rocket shot from Tony from outside the penalty box that found its way in the back of the net.
Stunned by this goal, Ittifaq drew back on defense and relied on fast counterattacks. Being down early in the match by one goal was a particularly difficult situation for Ittifaq because that gave Al-Jazirah plenty of time to score an equalizer. Jazirah had the slight edge in the game that was full of attacks and counter attacks in the first half.
In the second half, Ittifaq were better organized and more dangerous on many occasions to score one goal. In the last 10 minutes, Ittihad drew back and Al-Jazirah pushed forward in search of the second goal and the aggregate equalizer.
The reality on the ground was to come in the final minute of injury time just as when many thought the match would go Ittifaq’s way. Abdul Slalam Jumma launched a rocket shot from outside the penalty box, the ball touching the top of the bar and sinking in the back of the net.
Fans went crazy and Ittifaq players could only watch in disbelief with images of the cup fast slipping from their grasp and their dreams being shattered. Going to extra time, Ittifaq took a blow when the team striker Rashed Al-Raheeb was red carded in a controversial decision. Al-Raheeb received a second yellow card and the red card when the referee ruled him faking a fall inside the penalty box.
With one man down Ittifaq had no choice but to deal with the huge pressure from Al-Jazirah. The stunner came in the 101st minute during the second extra time when a nice shot from Abdullah Qasim hit the back of the net. With one goal down, one player down and little time available to come back all seemed lost for Ittifaq.
But then again it’s not over till it’s over and Ittifaq scored on a header in 120th minute following a nice cross from an Akaal free kick.
The whole stadium was in defeaning silence, this time the local fans and players unbelieving the victory was so near and yet so far. Confusion halted the match for 20 minutes when at the end of the second injury time Ittifaq refused to continue the game that they said was over and which they won as the one goal they scored in the opponent’s field counts for two.
The organizing committee ruled otherwise, ordered Ittifaq back onto the field and called for a penalty shootout to decide the contest.
Each side took nine penalty kicks. Yousuf Abdul Aziz and Amran Al-Jissi missed for Al-Jazirah. Akaal and Hussein Al-Najaee missed for Ittifaq, and the goalkeeper stopped the last attempt from Meshal Al-Saeed handing Al-Jazirah the title.
