Al Duhail’s Youssef El Arabi (centre) scores against Al Shahania yesterday.
QNB Stars League winners Al Sadd and defending champions Al Duhail kept their chances of playing the highly-anticipated Amir Cup final at Al Wakrah Stadium intact, registering convincing victories in their respective quarter-finals at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Al Sadd overcame a late fightback to knock Al Gharafa out of the tournament with a 4-2 victory, after Al Duhail advanced in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over a spirited Al Shahania in the first quarter-final.
Al Sadd, the newly-crowned QSL champions continued to dominate their opponents, with feared striker Baghdad Bounedjah scoring a brace besides a goal each from Boualem Khouki and QFA Player-of-the-Year Akram Afif, taking them into the semi-finals.
After a fast start to the match, Khouki opened account for the Wolves with a header from a close range off a lofty pass by Afif in the 17th minute, beating goal-keeper Yousof Hassan.
Captain Xavi Hernandez, who yesterday confirmed his plans to retire as a footballer at the end of this season, designed the second goal for Al Sadd with a brilliant pass to Bounedjah in final minute of the first half. The striker made no mistake as he had just goal-keeper to beat to give Al Sadd a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Afif found the target in 74th minute to extend Al Sadd lead to 3-0 before Al Gharafa staged a fightback to make it 3-2 after goals from Iranian star Mehdi Taremi (78th minute) and substitute Amro Abdulfattah (89th minute).
But when things begun to get tense, Bounedjah made it 4-2 for Al Sadd in the start of injury time for his 41st goal of the season, and secure victory for the Wolves.
Coach Jesualdo Ferreira’s Al Sadd will meet the winners of quarter-finals between Al Arabi and Al Rayyan, which is scheduled today.
Earlier in the first quarter-final, coach Rui Faria’s Al Duhail had to wait for 57 minutes to get their first goal of the match against stubborn Al Shahania, who blocked several attacks by the home team in the first half.
Al Shahania were looking good in defense until a well coordinated attack by Al Duhail earned them the opener in the 57th minute.
Star striker Youssef El Arabi was the scorer, who did no mistake to push the ball past goal-keeper Amer Ahmed from a close range, after a brilliant pass from Shoya Nakajima from the right.
The goal prompted Al Shahania to look for a leveler and Al Duhail took full advantage of their compromised defense, doubling the lead with a goal in 79th minute. Paulo Edmilson struck a brilliant kick on the left corner, leaving goalie Amer Ahmed helpless.
The Red Knights didn’t have to do much to retain their lead to ensure their place in the semi-finals, where they will meet the winners of today’s quarter-finals between Al Ahli and Al Sailiya.
