Al Rayyan booked their place in the final of 2025-2026 season QSL Cup after a dramatic 17-16 victory on penalties over Umm Salal, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday.

The semifinal encounter delivered high drama from start to finish, with Abdulaziz Hazaa’s missed attempt proving decisive in the marathon shoot-out, the only miss in an extended series of spot kicks.

Umm Salal got off to a dream start, with Cristo Gonzalez scoring from the spot in the fifth minute after an infringement on Salem Ali Al Hajri by Al Rayyan’s Brazilian defensive midfielder Gregore inside the final third.

Energised by the early goal, Umm Salal went in search of more and Al Rayyan’s woes were further compounded in the 30th minute when Al Hajri doubled the lead for The Orange Fortress after turning in a long-range free-kick from Oussama Tannane.

With five minutes before the break, Tiago Silva got one back for The Lions with a well-taken corner kick that evaded everyone before resting gently in the upper right-hand corner of the net.

Jean Quaisi further extended the lead in the 65th minute, finishing off an overlapping move started by Cristo Perez, before a deflection by Edidiong Udosen, from Gabriel Pereira’s strike, cut back their lead in the 84th minute.

Al Rayyan secured a last-gasp equaliser through Rodrigo Moreno in five minutes of added time to take the match into the decisive penalty shoot-out.