Dubai: Valencia scored once in each half to become the first team to successfully defend their title in the Hamdan Bin Mohammad U-17 International Football Championship as Al Nasr were denied at their Al Tayer ground late on Saturday.
Watched by the legendary Diego Maradona, former stars Michel Salgado and Frederic Kanoute, Valencia scored through a 26th minute Fran Navarro header and a second one from Toni Martinez five minutes from the final whistle.
Dr Ahmad Sa’ad Al Sharif, General Secretary, Dubai Sports Council (DSC) was joined by Maradona, Salgado and Kanoute in handing over the winner’s trophy to skipper Javier Jimenez.
“This is one of the most satisfying wins for us. I am sure our players have learnt a lot playing against different schools of football,” Valencia coach Ruben Mora told Gulf News.
“It has been a huge learning process for these boys and playing competitive tournaments like these is what they need at this age. What makes me even happier is the fact that our two goalscorers in the final are among the youngest in the current squad,” he added.
Play commenced at a brisk pace with both sides trying to have the upper hand. Valencia used the flanks well trying to get the early goal, and Al Nasr did well with the quick counter-attacks.
Finally, it was the Spanish side that got the vital lead as Navarro rose above the Al Nasr defence to nod in a corner kick in the 26th minute. The Saudi lads tried their best to secure an equaliser, but found the Valencia defence too good.
In fact, the Spaniards should have scored at least another three goals in the second half, but Borja Iniguez, Miguel Mari and Javier Zarzo missed in front of goal. Ultimately, it was left up to Martinez to calm Valencia nerves as his first-time shot from the edge of the box bulged the nets with only five minutes remaining for the final whistle.
“This has been a satisfying trip for us because this team is our under-16 side. We will be back next year if we are invited by the Dubai Sports Council,” coach Mora said.
After the match, the players took great interest in going and posing for pictures with the stars, while some of them even took the liberty of kicking around the ball with Salgado’s two sons.
“To meet such famous players including Maradona is a dream come true for me. When I realised they were all watching us play, there was this extra motivation in me to give off my best on the field,” Al Nasr star Mohammad Shahrani said.
Toni Martinez, who scored the second goal to seal the win for Valencia was joined by some of his teammates kicking the ball around with Salgado’s two sons. “It’s not every day we get to do these things. I mean, these are legends in football and it is an absolute pleasure to come to Dubai and win this tournament. Meeting them all is like a bonus,” he said.
Earlier, Torino FC of Italy slammed four goals past local side Al Ahli to secure the third place in the competition.
