Al Thumama: Al Gharafa has advanced to the semi-finals of the 2025 Amir Cup after defeating Al Sadd, the defending champions, 5-4 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw in both regular and extra time. The quarter-final match was held today at Al Thumama Stadium.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Gharafa will now face Umm Salal in the semi-final. Umm Salal had also advanced after beating Al-Shamal on penalties (3-2) yesterday, following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
For Al Gharafa, Joselu from Spain and Yacine Brahimi from Algeria both scored from the penalty spot in the 45+2 and 53rd minutes. Al Sadd's goals came from an own goal by Al-Gharafa defender Aron Gunnarsson from Iceland in the 67th minute and a last-gasp equalizer by Boualem Khoukhi in the 90+9th minute.
The match began with both sides exchanging attacking opportunities. Al Gharafa's Brahimi fired a powerful shot in the 6th minute that was saved by the goalkeeper, and Al Sadd responded with a long-range effort from Claudinho that went over the bar in the 11th.
Joselu nearly scored with a header from a Brahimi cross in the 15th minute, but shortly after, the match was interrupted for about 25 minutes due to a technical issue, resulting in a long stretch of stoppage time.
After play resumed, Al Gharafa dominated possession. Rodrigo Moreno had a header go over the bar in the 36th minute, and Joselu had a strong shot blocked in the 41st. A handball by Brazilian defender Paulo Otavio gave Al Gharafa a penalty, which Joselu converted in the 45+2 minute, putting his side ahead.
Joselu nearly doubled the lead after receiving another pass from Brahimi, but his shot narrowly missed the post in the 45+10 minute.
Al Sadd responded strongly, with Youcef Atal nearly equalizing with a powerful shot, but Khalifa Abubakr, Al-Gharafa's goalkeeper, made a save in the 45+16 minute, preserving the 1-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Al Sadd pressed forward while Al Gharafa relied on a structured defense and swift counterattacks. This led to another penalty after Otavio once again handled the ball in the box. Brahimi converted in the 53rd minute to make it 2-0.
Al Sadd missed a key chance to reduce the deficit when Claudinho's shot was spilled by the keeper, and Rafa Mujica missed the rebound from close range in the 58th minute.
Al Sadd finally pulled one back when Claudinho's free kick was inadvertently deflected into his own net by Gunnarsson in the 67th minute.
With momentum on their side, Al Sadd pushed for an equalizer. Akram Afif came close in the 72nd minute, firing just over the crossbar, and a header from Mohamed Kamara missed narrowly in the 80th.
Al Gharafa still threatened on the counter, and Ahmed Al-Janahi missed a golden opportunity in the 84th minute after going one-on-one with the keeper but shooting too weakly.
Gunnarsson redeemed himself by clearing the ball off the line in the 90+2 minute, denying Rafa Mujica a certain goal. But in the 90+9 minute, Al Sadd finally equalized when Hassan Al-Haydos sent in a cross that Boualem Khoukhi headed into the net, forcing extra time with the score tied 2-2.
Despite Al Sadd's superiority in extra time, Al Gharafa held firm defensively, and the match went to penalties. Al Gharafa emerged victorious 5-4, securing their place in the semi-finals.