Action from the QSL Cup match between Al Duhail and Al Khor at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. Abdul Basit/The Peninsula
Qatar SC and Al Duhail registered contrasting wins to move into the semi-finals of the QSL Cup.
Yesterday, at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Duhail survive a few hiccups in the first half but came strongly in the second to trounce Al Khor 5-1.
A second half hat-trick from super-sub Nasser Salh Nasser helped Al Duhail to the big win.
Al Duhail went into the lead very early into the match through Fahad Waad in the sixth minute.
The under-23 player placed himself perfectly inside the box to finish the move started by Yousef Alarabi.
Thereafter, Al Duhail dictated terms coming up with several threatening moves but could not add more goals.
During that period, Al Duhail strikers were guilty of missing at least half a dozen chances either shooting or heading wide and a couple times shooting tamely into the waiting hands of the keeper.
Much against the run of play, Said Brahmi equalised for Al Khor in the 32nd minute.
The teams went into the half time break deadlocked at one-all. In the second session, substitute Nasser did the star act for Al Duhail by registering a hat-trick.
The under-19 player struck in the 56, 61 and 90th minute while Yousef Alarabi put the issue beyond doubt.
In the other quarter-final clash, a brace from Ali Said Al Muhannadi helped Qatar SC beat Qatar Stars League leaders Al Sadd 2-0.
The 25-year-old striker scored once in each half to take his team to the semi-finals.
Al Muhannadi struck as early in the sixth minute and added a second one in the 59th minute.
Al Sadd, who took the field with a number of players from the age group teams, two from the Under-23 and an equal number from the under-19, did not have the best of the start.
Spanish veteran Gabriel Luis Fernandez Arenas was the towering presence in the Al Sadd ranks and who guided the young players in the side.
Al Sadd suffered an early blow six minutes into the match on when Al Mohannadi got the first of his two goals.
Down by a goal Al Sadd picked up the pace and pressed hard for the equaliser.
Qatar SC on the other hand used their collective experience to repel the Al Sadd attacks.
Although both the teams came close to scoring, they could not trouble the scorers.
Qatar SC thus went into the halftime with a 1-0 lead.
On resumption, Qatar SC sustained the attacking tempo and broke through the Al Sadd defense for the second time in the match.
With 14 minutes gone into the second half, Al Muhannadi found himself in the thick of things, finding the back of the nets.
Thereafter, Al Sadd threw everything into the attack but Qatar SC stood their ground managing to repulse the waves of Al Sadd attacks with aplomb.
