Real to clash with Eindhoven as Flamengo take on Dortmund
dubai — Real Madrid will take on Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in Tuesday’s semifinal of the 8th Hamdan bin Mohammed U16 International Football Championship after topping Group B.
Virtually assured of a place in the last-four following a 4-0 win over Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and then a 2-0 triumph over Al Nasr in their opening two games, Real completed their group engagements with a 0-0 draw against Borussia Dortmund to finish at the top of the leaderboard with 7 points.
Dortmund clinched the second semifinal spot from the group with five points and will meet Group A winners CR Flamengo in Tuesday’s opening semifinal at the Dubai Police Officers’ Club.
Al Nasr had a chance to qualify as well — they needed to beat Shabab Al Ahli Dubai first and then hope Real Madrid defeat Dortmund, but their hopes were dashed following a 4-4 draw.
Nasr looked on course as they took a 2-0 lead inside the first 26 minutes of the match following strikes by Saeed Ahmad Khadim and Ahmad Saeed.
Shabab Al Ahli, however, fought back to level the scores before the break with Harib Abdulla and Abdelaziz Al Bloushi finding the back of the net in the 37th and 43rd minutes respectively.
Shabab Al Ahli then moved into the lead in the 58th minute thanks to Hamdan Humaid. Ahmed Saeed levelled the scores with his second in the 78th minute, but the parity lasted only three minutes as Khalifa Yousuf Atiq booted home his team’s fourth.
Fortunately for Nasr, substitute Elmehdi Elkhamlichi managed to find the equaliser in added time.