DOHA : Aspire Academy completed a perfect group stage at the Al Kass International U17 Football Tournament after defeating Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel 4-2 on Friday in the final round of Group A.
The match was played at Mansour Muftah Stadium, where Aspire, already assured of a semi-final place after the second round, finished top of the group with nine points from three matches. Etoile du Sahel ended with two points.
Aspire took the lead just before halftime when Osama Mohammed scored in the 43rd minute, before captain Mohsen Al-Hajri doubled the advantage early in the second half.
Etoile reduced the deficit through Mazen Ghazi in the 57th minute, but an own goal by Mohamed Marzouki six minutes later restored Aspire’s two-goal cushion. Ghazi converted a penalty in the 79th minute to score his second goal and make it 3-2, before Taha Nassir sealed the win for Aspire deep into stoppage time.
In the other Group A match, Morocco’s Mohammed VI Academy claimed the second semi-final berth with a 2-0 win over Rangers.
Imran opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, while Omar Alawi added a second goal late on to lift the Moroccan side to four points. Rangers finished bottom of the group with one point, behind Etoile du Sahel in third place.
