Al Sailiya's players and officials celebrate with the trophy after winning the final.
Doha: Al Sailiya pulled off a thrilling 5-4 victory over Al Wakrah in extra-time to retain their Ooredoo Cup title at the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, yesterday.
Driss Fettouhi scored the tournament winning goal from penalty spot in eighth minute of extra time of the high-scoring final that swung both ways.
It was Al Wakrah who took early control of the title clash through a fourth minute goal from Gelson Dala, who scored after a brilliant assist by Saoud Ibrahim.
Al Sailiya, who were phenomenal in the tournament, bounced back at the half-hour mark with a goal from Ahmed Al Minhali.
Sami Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya started to dominate and took the lead in 36th minute, with Mohammed Muddather netting their second goal.
Al Wakrah struck back in stoppage time (45+2 minutes) of the first half with Nasser Al Yazidi giving a reprieve to the Blue Waves ahead of the second session.
The second half was equally exciting as Al Wakrah clinched a 3-2 lead through Walter Bwalya in 52 minute before the Peregrines fought back five minutes later with Dala scoring his second goal of the match. Marquez Lopez-coached Al Wakrah went ahead again after Carlos Strandberg’s strike in 61st minute following Bwalya’s assist.
After repeated attacks, Al Sailiya managed to equalise again after Ahmed Fadel fired a goal in 75th minute, taking the match into extra-time. Mohamed Salah won the all-important penalty after his strike hit Lucas Mendes’ hand inside the box.
Fettouh made no mistake, taking a clinical spot kick giving no chance to goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak Al Khater as Al Sailiya celebrated another triumph in the tournament.
Al Sailiya had defeated Al Rayyan in the last edition’s final.
Qatar Stars League CEO Hani Taleb Ballan, CEO of Corporate Services at Ooredoo Thani Al Malki and Director of Events at Ooredoo Abdullah Al Mohannadi presented the trophies and awards.
The final was attended by a number of personalities, most notably Italian Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee, and Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, President of Qatar Players Association.
