Unbeatable Al Meqbaali stands tall

Doha, Qatar: A champion has yielded its crown, but it s safe to say it was held on tightly. In the quarter finals of the FIFA Arab Cup the defending c...

Doha, Qatar: A champion has yielded its crown, but it’s safe to say it was held on tightly. In the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup the defending champions Algeria were eliminated after a penalty shootout which saw the United Arab Emirates emerge victorious.

The paradox for the Fennecs is that not only did they have a slight edge in the match, but they’ve been knocked out of the tournament just shy of the semi-finals without having suffered a single defeat in regulation or extra time.

To take down an unstoppable champion like Algeria, who had just extended their unbeaten run to ten matches, they needed a hero, someone capable of making a difference in key moments. Fortunately for the Emiratis, Hamad Al Meqbaali was just the right man for the job.

In addition to thwarting Algeria’s attempt at a last-minute winner with a spectacular save, the goalkeeper then denied Yassine Benzia and Mohamed Khacef from the spot in the penalty shootout to seal the defending champions’ exit and secure his side’s place in the semi-finals in style.

“We deserved the win, and this success has brought us immense joy despite a tough match”, the goalkeeper told FIFA. “The coach instilled positive energy in us, he motivated us in the right way and showed a lot of faith in us, like we were his own sons. That helped us to fight for our flag, for ourselves and for the coach.”