|
|
|
|
| AFC Champions League |
|
|
|
| Reds ‘perfect team’ says Ibrahim |
 |
| Al Qadisa coach Mohamed Ibrahim hailed Urawa Reds as the 'perfect team'. (AFP) |
SAITAMA – Al Qadsia coach Mohammed Ibrahim hailed Urawa Reds as the ‘perfect team’ after he saw his side eliminated from the AFC Champions League at the quarter-final stage by the defending champions.
A goal in each half from Takahito Soma and Marcus Tulio Tanaka saw Urawa overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first leg to record a 4-3 aggregate win, while Al Qadsia’s night was soured further by Hussain Ali’s sending off deep into injury time.
“I think Urawa Reds are the perfect team,” said former Kuwait coach Ibrahim.
“All of their players, including those on the bench, have very high potential and I’m proud to say we played with a team that we would normally only see on television. It was a great experience.”
Ibrahim’s team went into the second leg with a slender one-goal advantage but refused to sit back and defend their lead against an Urawa side roared on by more than 41,000 fans.
And although Urawa were fully deserving of their win, the Kuwaiti coach was satisfied with his side’s performance as they reached the knockout phase of the competition for the second time in their history.
“I was expecting an exciting game and I think Urawa showed their potential by winning today’s game,” he said.
“We are an amateur team but I’m satisfied with the performance and the fact we were able to get this far.
“Urawa Reds dominated, especially in the first half, but we were able to play well in the last ten minutes and I’m satisfied with my players.
“Urawa Reds were able to prove their strength in this game.”
Ibrahim suggested the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan had an impact on the outcome but he also felt his younger players failed to reach the heights they showed in the first leg victory.
“Perhaps the difference between the teams was a cultural one between Kuwait and Japan,” he said. “Maybe that influenced the result.
“We had some young players who played in this game who had played well in the first leg but weren’t able to show their potential in this game.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
