Penalty shootout and golden goal drama ruled the Under-14’s section, with Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou, Abu Dhabi Indian School and Al Salaf Al Saleh Private School all progressing to the semi-finals in dramatic fashion.
It was rather more straightforward for The Millennium School Dubai who also advanced to the last four courtesy of a 4-1 win against Brilliant International Private School.
LFI string-puller Sacha Ziani gained man-of-the-match honours during LFI’s enthralling 3-3 draw with New Academy School, although head coach Fiederic Deswarte was full of praise for his “crazy” goalkeeper, Hedi Hbaleb, who was instrumental with two saves as LFI progressed 2-0 via a penalty shootout.
“We have three goalkeepers for the competition and Hedi is a really good keeper, he has the mentality to be a goalkeeper,” said Deswarte.
“He’s a little bit apart and has no fear at all. He’s a little bit crazy, in a good way. That’s sometimes what goalkeepers need. They are a little bit different. He showed one taker a corner and he saved it. I was confident in him beforehand.”
LFI qualified from the group stages with a perfect nine wins from nine, netting 38 goals and conceding just four, and Deswarte thinks their first real challenge will stand them in good stead for next week’s semi-final clash with TMS.
“It was the first time for us that it was hard to win,” he said.
“I told them (the players) all the teams in the knockout stages are going for the final and victory is never easy. It was a shock today, but you never get something like a trophy easily and I think it’s good for them to receive a lesson like this. It will be good for them.”
Man of the moment, Hbaleb, 13, added: “It’s a really important win because it was a difficult game. We didn’t expect the opponents to be as good as they were. They might not be as good as us but they were passionate and worked so hard.”
ADIS match-winner Zayed Palat paid tribute to his father, who inspired his superb free-kick from the halfway line that saw his team reach the last four via a golden goal in extra time in a tense encounter with Salman Farsi School.
Both teams had reached the quarter-finals playing attacking, eye-catching football, but they cancelled each other out in a scrappy game.
“I was going to cross it but dad told me to shoot so I did. I waited and then it went in and my heart started jumping,” said the 13-year-old.
“The group stages were fairly easy but it was a real test today. We expected a real fight and we got that. The fact we went through a hard game will help us in the semi-finals. It will give us confidence and hopefully we play better. We want to go all the way and lift that cup.”
Sharjah’s Al Salaf also needed more than 40 minutes to see of Al Yasmina School in a penalty shootout, having equalised with 30 seconds to go of normal time through Ahmad Adrous’ strike.
Jimmy Alley had scored both goals for Yasmina, one a thunderous penalty and the other a free-kick from halfway, while he also scored in the shootout, but goalkeeper Abdulmalik Saeed crucially saved Toby Bereten’s spot kick as Al Salaf advanced 3-2.
Shane Abraham was TMS’ hero as his hat-trick helped see off Brilliant International.
“I just want to thank my school and my team-mates. Even though I scored a hat-trick it’s all about the team. They supplied the chances for me to score,” said the 11-year-old.
“We are one game from the final now and I think we can make it. We want to go all the way.”
Coach Afsal Ibrahim said he was proud of his boys, who remain unbeaten in the competition.
“I talked before the quarter-finals of wanting to stay unbeaten and a 4-1 win is a good way to start the knockout stages,” he said.
“Full credit must also go to our principal too, Michael Guzder and our school management who are giving the whole freedom to the players. The whole school is behind the team.
“As a coach I have my own limitations and Dubai is a very busy city, so everyone deserves huge credit.”
