Al Arabi and Al Sadd cruised into the final of Ooredoo Cup after defeating their respective opponents in the semi-finals at the Al Sadd Stadium, yesterday. Al Arabi stunned Al Rayyan 2-1 in the first semi-final while Al Sadd overcame Al Ahli 2-0 to book their spot in the final.
In the first semi-final, Al Arabi fought back from being a goal down in the 29th minute through Al Rayyan’s Abdulrahman Al Harazi, with The Dream Team scoring through Abdulaziz Al Ansari (43rd minute) and Hamdi Harbaoui (57th minute). Icelandic midfielder Aaron Gunnarsson had a hand in Al Arabi’s both goals as they resulted from his throw-ins.
Striker Yacine Brahimi led Al Rayyan’s charge and they could take the lead around the half-hour mark through Al Harazi whose placing shot went into the goal off the defensive wall. Al Ansari drew level for Al Arabi by converting Gunnarsson’s throw-in from the right into the goal.
Before Hamdi headed in Gunnarsson’s measured cross from the right, off the latter’s own throw-in, Al Arabi captain Ahmed Fathi had a shot saved by Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmoud Ahmad. Al Rayyan’s series of attacks saw Al Arabi goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada thwart Abdulaziz Hatem twice. Generally, The Lions’ attacks were weak to fetch them a second goal.
Al Rayyan thus lost their chance to land a silverware this season as they had exited in the quarterfinals of Amir Cup (beaten 1-0 by Al Markhiya) and finished as runners-up, behind Al Duhail, in the QNB Stars League. On the other hand, the victory was a big boost for Al Arabi, who could finish only seventh in the league.
Meanwhile, Spanish Santi Cazorla (71st minute) was on target on his Qatar debut as Al Sadd claimed victory after scoring both their goals in the second half. Feared striker Akram Afif (90+1) was the other scorer for Al Sadd.
Al Sadd’s star signing Cazorla, who had great stints with Spanish club Villarreal and English side Arsenal among, started the game and impressed with his speed and dribbling skills before being substituted late in the match.
Yousef Abdulrazaq started the proceedings for Al Sadd by shooting over the bar in the seventh minute and Baghdad Bounedjah sent his shot straight to goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguez in the 12th minute. Umaru tested goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham the next minute.
Al Ahli’s Hazem Shehata’s angular shot in the 53rd minute was parried by Barsham and soon Al Sadd’s Rodrigo Tabata made an attempt.
Cazorla put Al Sadd ahead as he linked up with Yousef Abdulrazaq and Bounedjah before curling the ball into the top left corner of the net.
Akram sealed the issue with a neat finish past the Al Ahli goalkeeper after playing a one-two with Ahmed Bader Sayyar.
It may be recalled that Al Ahli had defeated Al Sadd by a 4-3 margin when they faced off in the group stage (Round 3) of this season’s Ooredoo Cup on 23rd November, 2019.
