Football: Al Sadd set up dream Barcelona tie

TOYOTA: Qatar’s Al Sadd will play Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup after the Asian champions stunned Esperance of Tunisia 2-1. The Doha side’s win means Asian teams have won all five meetings against African opposition at the intercontinental tournament. Al Sadd’s Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati said it was a ‘dream’ to take on the European champions. “This victory tonight was a milestone,” said Fossati. “Barcelona are the best team in the world and it will be the most difficult challenge in the players’ careers.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2011.