Intramural soccer team advances in playoffs
Intramural soccer team Qatar beat the Red Devils 8-6 in a match filled with fights and injuries inside the HPER building Dec. 5.
The first few minutes of play were dominated by Henock Beyene of the Red Devils, who scored both goals in the center of the net.
“I think we did a good job,” Red Devil Simohammed Ababov said. “It was tight, and the last (time) we played with our team.”
The Qatar keeper had several saves in the first half, but ended up taking a shot to the face, which stopped the game momentarily.
Red Devil keeper Cristian Vazquez kept his side in the lead with numerous consecutive saves.
Erhama Alkudari then took control of the game to score two goals for Qatar. The first came when he made a strong kick from the center of the court and stuck the ball into the top-right corner of the goal. Minutes later he then kicked the ball into the same spot.
The first half ended with a tie of 2-2.
Yousuf Alsaadi scored in the second half for his team’s third goal by hitting the ball into the bottom-left of the goal.
Beyene scored every goal for his team.
Due to the tie, the game was decided by penalty kicks to determine which team would advance in the playoffs.
“I think it was a really good game. It was really intense and physical,” said Red Devil player Fabian Calderon. “Overall we did our best but it just had to come down to PK’s. I wish it didn’t have to be like that, but it’s a part of the game”
Qatar made the first of their PK’s while the Red Devils missed their first one.
It came down to the final shot. Khalifa Alqahtani then stepped up and drove the ball into the goal, winning the game for Qatar.
“We were preparing for this match last week. I’m happy about this game and I am looking forward to the final now,” Alqahtani said.
Qatar will play their next playoff game Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.
– macael.ivie@aggiemail.usu.edu