Al Duhail defeated Qatar SC 2-1 in Round 1 (Group A) of the 2024-2025 season QSL Cup at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Friday.

Goals from Ibrahima Diallo (21st minute) and substitute Mubarak Shanan (68th minute) gave The Red Knights the win, while Qatar SC’s only goal came through Sebastian Soria (45+3 minute).

Al Duhail went on the attack right from the onset of the highly-entertaining match and Rashid Abdulaziz Al Abdulla almost registered a goal in the second minute of play after waltzing his way past the Qatar SC defence, but his final touch on the ball was not too difficult for goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi to handle.

After several attempts, Al Duhail finally got their goal in the 20th minute through Ibrahima Diallo.

Qatar SC responded to the deficit with courage as they immediately went in search of an equalizer. Soria almost got himself on the scoresheet in the 37th minute, but his powerful header got a brilliant response from Al Duhail goalkeeper Bautista Burke who did well to parry out of play for a corner kick.

Soria got his team’s equalizer with the final kick of first half after nodding home from a headed assist by Abdulrahman Al Karbi, following a set piece, in three minutes of added time to ensure the game is even going into the dugout.

Al Duhail got their lead restored in the 67th minute through Shanan, who replaced Muaid Walid Ibrahim at half-time, from an assist by Diallo.

Substitute Eisa Palangi missed a golden opportunity to equalize for The Kings in the 90th minute after missing a sitter, blowing wide a well-placed and timely pass from Soria, to the disappointment of both his bench and fans.

That proved to be their last opportunity of the night as Al Duhail went home with the three points in their bag.