Al khor: The UAE national team eliminated defending champions Algeria, completing the lineup for the semi-finals of the Arab Cup FIFA Qatar 2025, after winning 7-6 on penalties. The match, held Friday evening at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, concluded the quarter-final stage after a 1-1 draw in regulation time. According to Qatar News Agency, Algeria took the lead through Adel Boulbina in the 46th minute, but the UAE equalized through Bruno de Oliveira in the 64th minute. This victory marks the UAE's first official win against Algeria in only the second official match between the two teams. The first encounter was in the 1973 Palestine Cup, which Algeria won 2-0. This victory marks the UAE's second win against Algeria in the seventh encounter between the two teams throughout their history, compared to three Algerian victories and two draws. The UAE team will now face Morocco in the semi-finals next Monday. Morocco qualified after defeating Syria 1-0 yesterday (Thursday) in the same round. The match was genera lly of a high standard from both sides, with Algeria having the edge in terms of chances and possession. The first half, characterized by a defensive approach and physical play, saw few genuine scoring opportunities for either team. Throughout the first half, the Algerian attack only showed promise on two occasions. The first came from a free kick taken by Yacine Brahimi, which was headed into the UAE goal by Ayoub Ghezala in the 14th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The second chance came from a counter-attack that reached Adel Boulbina, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and fired a powerful shot to the right of Hamad Al-Muqbali, the UAE goalkeeper, but the referee also disallowed the goal for offside. In contrast, the UAE attack was largely ineffective against Algeria's solid defense, with the exception of Yahya Al Ghassani's shot from inside the penalty area, which was blocked by defenders (24'). Unlike the first half, the second half started quickly, with a powerful shot f rom Algerian Yacine Brahimi in the first minute. The ball rebounded off UAE goalkeeper Hamad Al-Muqbali, and Adel Boulbina followed up beautifully, scoring the opening goal (46'). Algeria's early goal freed the match from its defensive caution and the players' concentration in midfield. The UAE pressed forward in search of an equalizer, while Algeria tried to exploit the wide spaces in the UAE defense through counter-attacks. In the 55th minute, the UAE almost equalized after Caio's cross deflected off defender Reda Halaïmia's foot and into the Algerian net, but goalkeeper Farid Chaal made a difficult save. This was followed by a well-organized Emirati attack down the left flank, led by Yahya Al Ghassani, who delivered a cross that Caio Lux headed down beautifully for Bruno de Oliveira to easily tap in from inside the six-yard box (64), leveling the score. The UAE tried to capitalize on their momentum after the equalizer and add a second goal, but the Algerian goalkeeper was alert and saved Caio's shot in t he 69th minute. Meanwhile, Algeria's counter-attacks posed a threat to the UAE goal. Substitute Zakaria Draoui missed a clear scoring opportunity, firing over the bar (74), followed by Adel Boulbina's shot that went just wide of the right post (79). In the final ten minutes, the UAE gained the upper hand. Caio unleashed a powerful shot that was saved by Algerian goalkeeper Farid Chaal (82). This was followed by Lucas Jimenez's run down the right flank and cross that went begging (83). Finally, Lucas Pimenta's header was brilliantly saved by the Algerian goalkeeper in the 88th minute, leaving the match tied and forcing extra time. The score remained level in extra time. In the first period, Algeria nearly took the lead twice: first with a header from Redouane Berkane that was saved by the Emirati goalkeeper (98), and then when Yacine Brahimi found himself one-on-one with the Emirati goalkeeper on the left, but his shot went just wide of the right post (104). In the second period, Lucas Pimenta's effort, whic h was saved by the Algerian goalkeeper, was the UAE's most dangerous chance (115), while the goalkeeper made a crucial save from a dangerous shot by Algeria's Zakaria Draoui (120+1). After the end of extra time, the two teams resorted to penalty kicks, which ended in favor of the UAE (7-6), after the brilliance of goalkeeper Hamad Al Muqbali, who saved two penalties, qualifying his country's team for a tough match against their Moroccan counterparts in the semi-finals next Monday.