Al Kharaitiyat and Umm Salal completing the semifinal line-up from Group A and B respectively was the high point of the QSL Cup’s fifth and final round, played over Monday and Tuesday.

Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan had reached the last-four stage from Group A and B respectively after taking an unassailable lead on completion of the fourth round. 

The Al Kharaitiyat vs Qatar SC match was the decider in Group A and the former won by a whopping 6-1 margin to go through with 11 points.

Al Gharafa blanked Al Sailiya 4-0 to end their group engagements with 13 points. Al Duhail finished third on seven following their 8-0 rout of Al Khor.

A total of 19 goals were scored across Group A matches.

Ace Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi, who also tops the QNB Stars League scoring chart with 16 goals, found the target six times as Al Duhail pumped in goals at will against Al Khor. Mohammad Mousa and Ahmed Mohammed were the other scorers.

Qatar SC were expected to put up a stiff fight in their bid to qualify for the semifinals, but they caved in meekly against Al Kharaitiyat, for whom consistent scorer and Moroccan striker Rachid Tiberkanine as well as Abdulaziz Al Ansari scored two goals each.

Saoud Nasser and Al Yazidi also found the target for The Thunders, while Abdurahman Akbar gave Qatar SC’s only reply. The Kings would have advanced had they won by a three-goal margin.

Al Gharafa did not show any let-up as they continued their unbeaten run, denying Al Sailiya a consolation win or even a draw.

Abdulmajid Anad, in-form player Amro Seraj (double) and Nasser Al Kaabi netted the goals.

The Group B action witnessed lesser number of goals (eight) and one draw when Al Arabi held Al Rayyan goalless in a losing cause. Both teams created chances, but failed to break the deadlock.

Umm Salal made it big by defeating Al Markhiya 3-0, Abdulaziz Al Yahri, Mahmoud Al Mawas and Yannick Sagbo finding the target.

Al Ahli pulled off a fighting 3-2 win over Al Sadd.

A double by Under-23 star Fadl Omar helped Al Ahli, who also benefited from an own goal by Al Sadd’s Hassan Kamal. Hassan Palang’s two-goal effort went in vain for The Wolves.

Umm Salal and Al Ahli both 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). 

ROUND 5 RESULTS

GROUP A

Al Kharaitiyat 6 Qatar SC 1

Al Sailiya 0 Al Gharafa 4

Al Khor 0 Al Duhail 8

GROUP B

Umm Salal 3 Al Markhiya 0

Al Arabi 0 Al Rayyan 0

Al Ahli 3 Al Sadd 2