Mohamed Aboutrika scores late winner to make the difference for Baniyas

Egyptian international beat two defenders to score in injury time, which lifted Banyias to a 2-0 win over Najran and into the final of the Gulf Clubs Championship, writes Amith Passela.

Baniyas’ Mohamed Aboutrika, right, celebrates his injury-time goal against Najran on Wednesday night. Satish Kumar / The National

Amith Passela

May 08, 2013

Baniyas 2 Najran 0

Baniyas Senghor 20', Aboutrika 90'+5
Man of the match Mohamed Aboutrika (Baniyas)

SHAMKHA // Mohamed Aboutrika scored in the dying seconds of added time for Baniyas to clinch a 2-0 win and register a 2-1 aggregate victory over Najran of Saudi Arabia to book their place in the final of the Gulf Clubs Championship.

The Egypt international outfoxed two Najran defenders before firing in a low effort after Andre Senghor had given the home side an early lead Wednesday night at the Baniyas Stadium.

Interim manager Salem Al Orafi, taking charge of just his fourth game since being installed, was delighted his players executed the game plan.

"It was a straight forward match and the players knew of their task and played excellent game to win this game," said Al Orafi. "Our first task was to get on level terms, which we fortunately managed to do early in the game. And then our next task was not to allow them to score, which we also managed to do.

"The players put in a great effort. It was game where everything worked perfectly well for us on the night and now we can look ahead of winning a title this season."

Baniyas were a goal behind from the first leg and they made their intentions very clear, attacking from the onset.

They forced three corners and had two shots at the visitor's goal from Christian Wilhelmsson and Sultan Al Ghaferi that were smothered out from the Najran defenders in the first eight minutes.

Al Ghaferi had an excellent chance to put them ahead after Wilhelmsson had spilt the Najran defence, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

However, they were rewarded when Senghor controlled a long ball from Haboush Saleh with his chest and volleyed it powerfully with his left foot to make it 1-0.

Senghor came close to adding a second again after the break but his header from a corner drifted wide of the far post.

Najran wasted a couple of opportunities when Hamza Ali failed to get the ball past the charging Mohammed Ghuloom, the Baniyas goalkeeper, and Wael Ayan was wide from close range.

[ apassela@thenational.ae ]

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