Tuesday’s QSL Cup Group B fifth and final-round fixtures saw a fighting Al Arabi hold Al Rayyan to a goalless draw while Al Ahli edged past Al Sadd 3-2. In other action, Umm Salal beat Al Markhiya 3-0.

The result saw Al Rayyan, who had qualified for the semifinals after the fourth round, confirm first position in the group with 13 points. Both Umm Salal and Al Ahli finished on eight points, but the former advanced on better goal difference (+3 as against Al Ahli’s 0).

In the first semifinal on Saturday, 16th December, Al Gharafa will play Umm Salal at the Al Wakrah Stadium (16:00), followed by the Al Rayyan vs Al Kharaitiyat encounter at the Al Shamal Stadium (18:30). 

Umm Salal 3 Al Markhiya 0

In an all-round display of attacking football, Umm Salal easily got the better of Al Markhiya at the Al Arabi Stadium. 

Abdulaziz Al Yahri (31st), Mahmoud Al Mawas (74th) and Yannick Sagbo (76th) scored the goals for Umm Salal, who dominated the proceedings. 

It was The Orange Fortress’ second victory in the tournament.

Al Arabi 0 Al Rayyan 0

Al Arabi held group leaders Al Rayyan to a goalless draw at the Qatar SC Stadium. 

In a tense start, Al Arabi captain Talal Ali went down after a rough tackle by Younus Yaqoob prompting a stop in play for a few minutes. In the ninth minute, Al Rayyan’s Mohammed Kassola nearly scored an own goal when he accidentally clipped the ball past his own goalmouth.  

At the other end, Khalfan Ibrahim misfired from close range when he just had the Al Rayyan goalkeeper to beat, but he hit the ball straight at Saoud Al Khater in the 15th. 

After Al Arabi’s Abdul Rehman Mansoor unleashed a powerful shot that narrowly flew above the crossbar, Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup brought in star attacking midfielder Rodrigo Tabata in the 65th, but they still struggled to make inroads against a determined Al Arabi side. 

Al Ahli 3 Al Sadd 2

Al Ahli posted a 3-2 win over Al Sadd at the Al Shamal Stadium.

A double by Under-23 star Fadl Omar (21st-min penalty, and 68th) was the match-winning effort for Al Ahli, who also benefited from an own goal by Al Sadd’s Hassan Kamal (26th).

For Al Sadd, Hassan Palang also scored two goals (24th and 74th) in a lost cause.

Al Sadd’s Hussain Ali brought down Majid Hassan, resulting in a penalty, and Fadl converted from the spot with ease.

Al Sadd soon equalised when Palang calmly slotted the ball home after catching the goalkeeper napping.

A minute later, Kamal sent the ball into his own net with a poorly-directed header that beat his own goalkeeper. Later on, Fadl netted for a second time while Palang produced a near-perfect snap-header for The Wolves’ second goal.