The Top 4 in the QSL all eased through to the semifinals in convincing style over the weekend.

Current QSL champions Al Rayyan eased past Al Kharitiyat 3-0, with goals from the attacking trio of Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian Soria and Sergio Garcia enough to confirm the win.  The first half was a scrappy affair with both sides looking to control the pace of the game. Rayyan took the lead late in the first half, talismanic captain Rodrigo Tabata calmly chested the ball and fired it past the Al Kharitiyat keeper.

In the second half two goals in eleven minutes secured the tie in Rayyan’s favour. First a fine strike from Sergio Garcia. The former Spanish international had plenty of time and space and smashed a curling effort from outside the box past the Kharitiyat keeper, Ahmed Sufan.

On the 63^rd minute, Rayyan confirmed the win with an individual effort from Sebastian Soria.  The Qatari international picked up the ball and weaved passed the Kharitiyat defense before calmly stroking the ball into the back of the net.

In the late kickoff Al Sadd defeated Al Gharafa 3-2. Goals from Qatari International captain Hassan Haydoos and a brace from striker Bagdad Bounjah where enough for the Wolves to progress, despite Al Gharafa getting back into the game with goals from Mustapha Abdi and Vladimir Weiss, to set up a grandstand finish.

Sadd took the lead on the ninth minute when Algerian striker Bagdad Bounjah nodded in from a Xavi free kick. They then doubled their lead towards the end of the first half, Qatar captain Hassan Haydoos scored with a powerful freekick, much to the delight to Jesaldo Ferriera. Gharafa grabbed a lifeline in the match in the closing minutes of the first half with Mustapha Abdi heading in from a corner.

In the second half, Gharafa pushed hard for an equalizer but it was Al Sadd who grabbed a third on the 63^rd minute. Striker Bagdad Bounjah confirmed his brace, calmly slipping the ball into the net from a through ball from Nadir Belhadj.  

Gharafa fought back again on the 75^th minute with a fine run and curling shot from Vladimir Weiss to set up a tense final fifteen. However Al Sadd held out to seal a 3-2 and progress to the semifinals.

Both Al Rayyan and Al Sadd will now face off against each other in the semifinals of the Emir Cup.

In the second day of matches, both Lekhwiya and El Jaish progressed to the semifinals of the Emir Cup. In the early kickoff former QSL champions Lekhiwya left it late to scrape past a spirited Al Sailiya side. Tunisian attacker Yusef Msakni scored an 88^th minute winner to ensure that the Red Knights scraped past Al Sailiya 1-0.

Djamel Belmadi’s side where dominated possession for the majority of the tie. However the Red Knights lacked composure in the final third.  Missed chances, from Mohammed Moosa (59^th minute) defender Chico Flores (72^nd minute) and a powerful drive from Alain Dioko (78^th minute) suggested that the tie was heading to a penalty shootout.

However the tie swung in the favor of the four time QSL champions on the 88^th minute. Winger Mohammed Ismael’s cross was tuned in from close range from Tunisian attacker Yusef Msakni. To spare head coach Djamel Belmadi’s blushes on the night.

In the final match Emir Cup tie of the round, current Qatar Cup winners El Jaish defeated an inform Al Ahli side 4-2. A Hat-trick from Brazilian attacker Romarinho eased the soldiers to the semifinals as Sabri Lamouchi’s side aims for a domestic double this season.

Ahli took an early lead from the penalty spot after midfielder Mohsen Al-Yazidi was hacked down in the area. Firmin Mubele duely stepped up and dispatched the penalty to give his side the advantage. However Ahli where quickly pegged back thanks to a fine back post finish from Jaish defender Ali Sanad, both sides went in at 1-1 at halftime.

It was in six second half minutes that Jaish asserted their dominance and confirmed their place in the semifinal. Brazilian star Romarinho scored a quick-fire hat-trick with three goals of superior quality. Ahli did grab a lifeline on the on the 82^nd minute as Mubele slotted in his second of the match, however it proved to be too little too late for Ahli.

El Jaish will now progress to the semifinal and are set to face rivals Lekhwiya, in which will be seen as a repeat of this year’s Qatar Cup final.