Real To Meet PSV In Hamdan U16 Semis, Flamengo Take On Dortmund

Real Madrid will take on Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in Tuesday’s semi-final of the 8^th Hamdan Bin Mohammed U16 International Football Championship after finishing at the top of the 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 semi-final spot from the group with five points and will meet Group A winners CR Flamengo in Tuesday’s opening semi-final at the Dubai Police Officers’ Club.

Going into the final round of group matches, 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 with their city rivals.

Nasr looked on course as they took a 2-0 lead inside the first 26 minutes of the match following strikes by, first, Saeed Ahmad Khadim and then 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 37^thand 43^rd minutes respectively.

Shabab Al Ahli then moved into the lead in the 58^th minute thanks to Hamdan Humaid. Ahmed Saeed levelled the scores with his second of the evening in the 78^th minute, but the parity lasted only three minutes as Khalifa Yousuf Atiq, the Shabab Al Ahli captain, booted home his team’s fourth.

Fortunately for Nasr, substitute Elmehdi Elkhamlichi managed to find the equaliser in added time.

“We have witnessed some really exciting matches in the group stages, starting with the very first when PSV Eindhoven nicked full points against Al Ahly with a late, late winner,” said Ahmed Salem Al Mahri, Manager of DSC’s Department of Sports Academies.

“The four best teams have now made it to the knockout stages and their journey in the tournament continues. We wish them well. The journey of four other teams has come to a close, and while it must be disappointing for them, I am sure they will be taking a lot away from the matches they played here.

“The experience of playing against teams like Real Madrid, Flamengo, Dortmund and PSV will surely make them better players as they move up the ladder for their club and country in the coming years.”