Saqr the hero as Al Sadd crowned Asian Champions

In 2004 Qatar defeated Oman to clinch their second Gulf Cup title after a nail-biting penalty shootout in which Mohamed Saqr produced a classy performance saving three spot-kicks.

Seven years later, the 30-year-old Qatar international goalkeeper was once again the hero as he saved two penalties in another penalty shootout against Jeonbuk Motors of Korea, after the final match ended in a 2-2 draw, to give AL Sadd their first AFC Champions League title since 22 years.


Jeonbuk Motors was playing the one-legged final of this year’s edition at their home stadium, Jeonju World Cup Stadium, in front of a crowd of 41,000, thanks to a draw that was made before the quarter finals stage, a strange and an unfair decision by AFC in my opinion.

In the past two years the final was played also as a one-legged match but in a neutral venue (Japan) which I also think was just an unfair imitation of UEFA Champions League format, as Asia is a much bigger continent than Europe, and for the fans travel distances are longer, costs are higher, and the ease of access between Asian nations is not as easy as those between their European counterparts.


Brazilian Edinho gave the home team the lead in the 19th minute, with a beautifully curled free kick, but Al Sadd replied quickly and leveled the score I the 30th minute when defender Woo Yeon Sim headed Abdul Kader Keita’s cross into his own net.

In the second half, the Korean team put more pressure on Al Sadd’s defense and goalkeeper, but the Qatari team was able to take a surprise lead in the 61st minute thanks to a brilliant strike from keita. The Ivory Coast international controlled a pinpoint pass from Khalfan Ibrahim at the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful shot past Min Sik kim.

The Korean team hit the post more than once and Saqr made a number of brilliant saves to deny them an equalizer, but they were able to level the score in injury time as Lee Sung Hyun headed in from a corner.

In extra time, the Koreans once again piled up the pressure to snatch a winner, but Al Sadd’s defense was up to the task and there was no way past the Qatari goalkeeper who made another crucial save to deny Shung Hoon Jeong.

Ali Afif was sent off in the final minutes of the second extra-time for a second bookable offence.

In the penalty shootout, Saqr (His name means Eagle) saved penalties from kim Dong Chan and Park Won-Jae, while Al Sadd’s South Korea international Jung Soo Lee was denied by the crossbar, before his team mate Nadir Belhadj scored the decisive spot-kick.



Fossati .. Al Sadd’s “Special One”

Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati celebrated his first continental trophy in his with Al Sadd. His first spell with the club was in 2006 when he took charge of the team in midseason, following the sacking of Serbian legend Bora Milutinovic, leading them to the league title.

The following season (2006-07) was a memorable one as the team achieved an unprecedented quadruple winning Sheikh Jassim Cup, League, Emir Cup and Heir Apparent Cup titles.


He later took charge of the Qatari national team, but had to leave his post in 2008 due to health problems, according to QFA.

In 2009 he led Liga De Quito of Ecuador to continental glory winning the Copa Sud Americana and Recopa Sud Americana.

The following year he tried his luck in Brazil with Internacional then in Saudi Arabia with Al Shabab, but was not successful, before finally retaining his Al Sadd post in January 2011

The Hard Road To Glory

Al Sadd’s road to the final was not an easy one; the team nick named “Ayal Al Dheeb” “Sons of the wolf” reached the group stage after a playoff stage in which they defeated Ittihad Aleppo of Syria 5-1 and Dempo of India 2-1.

They went through the group stage undefeated and topped a difficult group that included Al Nasr (Saudi Arabia), Esteghlal (Iran) and Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan).

In the Round of 16, they defeated Al Shabab (Saudi Arabia) 1-0, before knocking out Sepahan of Iran in the quarter finals despite suffering a 2-1 home defeat in the 2nd leg, as they were awarded a 3-0 win in the first leg after the Iranian team fielded an ineligible player.



Then came the controversial encounter in the semifinal against Suwon Bluewings of Korea. The Qatari team came out victorious 2-0 in the first leg in Suwon, but the match was marred by crowd trouble and a number of Al Sadd players were injured after they were attacked by the Korean players who claimed that Al Sadd’s second goal was unfair.

Suwon players were waiting for the Qatari team to return the ball after a throw in. They claimed that they gave the Qatari’s the throw in to allow two injured players (one from each side) to get medical treatment after a clash in Al Sadd’s area.



But the television replays showed that the Korean team did not kick the ball out of play immediately after the two players were injured, instead they attempted to score and sent a cross from the right hand side ignoring AL Sadd players’ calls to get the ball out of play.



Once the Koreans knew they will not be able to score they kicked the ball out. From the resulted throw in, the ball reached Keita, and the Ivorian sent a long pass to Niang who easily scored his second of the match. Suwon’s players considered it unfair play and chaos erupted in Suwon World Cup Stadium.

Both teams had players suspended for the second leg in Doha, which Suwon won 1-0 and the Qatari team celebrated reaching the final for the first time since 22 years.

Back in 1989 they were the first Arab team to win the Asian Champions Cup when they defeated AL Rasheed of Iraq in the final. A competition of a much different format than the current AFC Champions League.

Ending East Asia’s Dominance



Their win this year, made them the first western Asian team to clinch the title since 2005, ending the dominance of the Korean and Japanese teams.

Al Sadd will also take part in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup next December, alongside world class sides like Santos of Brazil and Barcelona of Spain. They will start their campaign from the quarter finals stage.

Al Sadd’s victory came to put an end to any doubts about the standard of the local game in Qatar. Qatar Stars League teams were awarded an extra spot in next year’s AFC Champions League, with Al Rayyan and Lekhwiya qualified directly to the group stage, while Al Gharrafa will have to go through the qualifying playoffs.

Title holders AL Sadd are not eligible to take part as they finished 5th in the 2010-11 QSL season, unless AFC change their rules to make an exception, just like UEFA did with Liverpool in the 2005-06 Champions League edition, when they granted them a place in the first qualifying round of the competition, after they failed to qualify through their local league.