Doha, Qatar: Al Kharaitiyat stunned ten-man Al Rayyan 3-2 to book their berth in the semifinals of the QSL Cup while Al Gharafa edged Al Ahli to seal their last-four spot.
In the first match at Al Gharafa Stadium, Kharaitiyat handed Rayyan an early shock when Abdulhadi Amin popped up unmarked at the near post and flicked a header into the net from a corner to put them ahead in the sixth minute.
Ten minutes later, Amin whipped in a curling shot that left the goalkeeper with no chance to double Kharaitiyat’s lead.
It soon got worse for Rayyan when Rogdrigo Tabata got a red card in the 28th minute for lashing out at Mehad Al Khamasi.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Al Rayyan grew into the game with Soria giving his team a lifeline when he converted a cross at the near post in the 65th minute.
Soria got the equaliser in the 82nd when ran down a Lucca Borges pass and finished off. The match was heading for extra time when substitute Raza headed home from close range to send Al Kharaitiyat through.
Kharaitiyat will play Gharafa in the semifinals after the Cheetahs’ quelled the challenge of Al Ahli.
Diogo Amodo scored the winner in the 62nd minute.
With neither side looking to give too much away, chances were few and far between in the first half.
The best opportunity of the half came from a Gharafa counter-attack when Vladimir Weiss found Mouayed Fedially free in the box. However, he miscued with the goal in sight.
Later on, Nigel de Jong looked to deceive the keeper as he disguised his goal-bound free-kick, but Abdulla Abdo was equal to it.
The moment of the match came midway through the second half when Amado rose highest to meet a drifted corner kick and his header from distance was sumptuously directed into the goal via the inside post.
Weiss nearly doubled the lead late on, but his drive was spectacularly parried by Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguez, who was on hand again to deny Othman Al Yahri.
Source: dohastadiumplusqatar.com