DOHA: Al Duhail secured their spot in the Qatar Cup final on Wednesday night after edging out Al Gharafa 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a goalless stalemate at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
The semi-final clash saw both teams create chances but fail to convert in regular and extra time. Al Duhail looked the more dominant side early on, with Hakim Ziyech orchestrating attacks and nearly setting up captain Almoez Ali in the 24th minute. Al Gharafa responded with their own attacking moments, most notably a missed opportunity by Joselu just before halftime.
Tension remained high in the second half as Rodrigo and Edmilson Junior came close for their respective sides. Yet, it was the goalkeepers and defensive lines who stood tall, sending the game into a shootout.
Al Duhail held their nerve from the spot, with successful conversions from Almoez Ali, Edmilson Junior, Benjamin Bourigeaud, and Bassam al-Rawi. Despite Sultan al-Brake missing his attempt, Al Gharafa faltered with Fabricio Díaz and Yacine Brahimi failing to score, sealing their fate.
Ismail Mohamed praised his team’s resilience after the win, stating, “Al Gharafa are a tough opponent… now our focus shifts to the final and the Emir’s Cup.”
The Red Knights will now prepare for a fierce showdown against arch-rivals Al Sadd in the final on May 10 at the same venue — a clash set to ignite Qatari football fans.(Gulf Times)
