Msakni helps Al Arabi edge Sharjah to clinch Qatar-UAE Super Cup
Yousef Msakni proved to be Al Arabi’s hero as he scored the game’s only goal to help his team beat UAE’s Sharjah and lift the inaugural Qatar-UAE Super Cup at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday.
Msakni’s winner, in the 58th minute, was scored in front of 17,362 fans.
In the video, @alarabi_club are crowned champions of the #SuperCup pic.twitter.com/UvviohH6eL
— Qatar Stars League (@QSL_EN) April 12, 2024
Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain and QFA Vice-President Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi crowned the winners.
Al Arabi almost started the game on the wrong foot, narrowly escaping a goal in the opening minute. A poor clearance by Arabi goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail almost let Sharjah’s Luan Pereira score the opening goal, but luckily, the ball went out for a goal-kick.
But Arabi players then started to take control of the game. They largely controlled the midfield and were successful in restricting the rival attacks.
Al Arabi are the #SuperCup champions pic.twitter.com/jjgJslqYlt
— Qatar Stars League (@QSL_EN) April 12, 2024
Arabi’s Wassim Keddari almost scored the opener in the 32nd minute, but his header went just inches wide.
Four minutes later, Arabi’s Rafinha mistimed the ball when it was perfectly laid up for Marco Verrati's shooting opportunity.
Arabi came into the second half with all guns firing, and they were clearly the better side, but lack of clinical finishing denied them the lead.
Msakni finally broke the deadlock in the 58th, finishing with a cool lob over onrushing goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani, after an assist by Hassan Alaaeldin.
Sharjah almost scored an equaliser in the 63rd following a quickly-taken free-kick, but Arabi’s Helal Mohammed blocked what could have been a goal from Sharjah’s Caio Lucas.
Arabi’s Verrati was sent off in the fifth minute of added time after collecting a second yellow card for pulling Sharjah substitute Sebastian Tagliabue’s shirt. The foul warranted a VAR check for a possible penalty kick, which was stood down after a lengthy review.
Sharjah tried desperately for an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game, but the Arabi wall stood strong and they emerged as deserved winners.
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