Al Duhail defeated Al Wakrah 3-1 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium of Al Duhail club on Friday to book their place in the final of 2024-2025 season QSL Cup.

The match went into extra time after Benjamin Bourigeaud had scored for Al Duhail in the 49th minute, while Ricardo Gomes equalized in the 58th minute for Al Wakrah from the spot, before Bourigeaud and substitute Ismail Ali scored the winning goals in the 108th and 111th minute respectively. 

Considering the importance of the game, the two "gladiators" were at each other's jugular right from the blast of the opening whistle, but despite their efforts, neither of the two sides was able to produce an early goal in the high-intensity match.

Farid Boulaya almost gave Al Wakrah the lead in the 34th minute, but his powerful strike from inside the box was fantastically saved by Al Duhail goalkeeper Bautista Burke.

A minute later, Michael Olunga seemed to have broken the deadlock for the Red Knights when he found the back of the net, but his effort was overturned for an offside ruling.

Another goal by Al Duhail, this time by Luis Alberto, in the 38th minute was also cancelled after a VAR check adjudged an offside in the build-up to the goal.

The situation remained unchanged as the two sides headed for the dugout at the end of the first half.

Al Duhail eventually broke the deadlock through Bourigeaud, who had the simplest of finishes, tapping home with a right-footed shot from an Olunga assist, following some impressive work in the midfield by his colleagues.

The Blue Wave got a chance at redemption in the 58th minute from the spot, and Gomes did not hesitate to get things done for his side as he netted home a low but powerful, driven right-footed shot that located the bottom corner of Al Duhail’s net.

The goal was a shot in the arm for Al Wakrah as they began to play with more confidence, and they could have taken the lead within five minutes of the equalizer if not for poor finishing.

Abdelaziz Mitwali’s foul on a goalbound Olunga reduced Al Wakrah to 10 men in three minutes of added time.

Despite all efforts from both sides, the match ended 1-1 in regulation time, paving the way for the extra time.

A defensive blunder on the part of Al Wakrah gave Bourigeaud the opportunity to fire home in the 108th minute as Al Duhail took the lead from a sublime assist by Olunga.

Substitute Ali Heider extended the lead, following a pass by Alberto, in the 111th minute to further compound Al Wakrah's woes as Al Duhail reached the final.