The sixth edition of Workers’ Cup is down to the last-four stage. It will be Doha Pest Control vs Al Asmakh F.M. (08:00) and ALYSJ vs Nakheel (09:30) in the semifinals, to be played at the Al Duhail Stadium on Friday, 9th March.

In the quarterfinals on Friday, 2nd March, Doha Pest Control edged Spartan Ready Mix 4-2 on penalties after the regulation time ended 2-2. The teams displayed attacking football and the game was forced to go to spot-kicks, where the winners held their nerve while Spartan missed two penalties.

Taufic Abdul Mumin scored Spartan’s goals in the second and 24th minutes, while Prince Martey (10th-min penalty) and Ebenezer Antwi (15th) found the mark for Doha Pest Control in normal time.

In the tie-breaker, Samuel Appiah, Francis Quarshie, Dennis and Richard Donkor were on target for the winners, while only Taufic Abdul Mumin and Desmond Djan were successful for Spartan.

Al Asmakh F.M. blanked MedGulf 2-0, with Dennis Ofori (14th minute) and Samuel Obida (five minutes into the second half) scoring the goals. Al Asmakh were forced back for long periods as Medgulf clung to hope for much of the game, but it was the difference in quality between the teams’ forward lines that decided the game.

ALYSJ also notched up a 2-0 win, against Gulf Contracting. Ali Awudu put ALYSJ ahead in the 17th minute, while Vincent Nortey too got his name on the scoresheet, seven minutes into the second half.

In the other last-eight clash, defending champions Nakheel registered an easy 4-0 victory over G4S Qatar. Mohammed Braik put on one of the finest performances of the tournament and bagged four goals as Nakheel, who were reduced to 10 men after Imad Khairat was sent off as early as the fifth minute, cruised home.

The Al Duhail Stadium is the only venue from the quarterfinal stage onwards. The Al Sadd Stadium had also hosted matches till the Round of 16 (Play-Offs), held on 23rd February.

A total of 32 goals, including penalties, were scored in the first knockout stage of the annual football tournament, organised by the Qatar Stars League and sponsored by Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. It started at the Al Duhail Stadium on Friday, 2nd February. The quarterfinals witnessed 18 goals, inclusive of tie-breaker scores.

The group-stage games saw 301 goals (78 in Week 1, 108 in Week 2, 115 in Week 3) being scored in all.

Matches are played on Fridays. The third-place play-off is scheduled for 16th March and final for 23rd March. Entry is free for the public.

The tournament’s main objective is to promote a culture of sport and healthy lifestyle in the community of migrant workers engaged in various projects across the State of Qatar, especially those related to the infrastructure of 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The full list of fixtures, scores and more information on the tournament can be found at www.workerscup.com.