The Peninsula
Al Duhail yesterday edged Al Shamal 3-2 to top Group B of the Ooredoo Cup at the Qatar University 4 Stadium, setting up a semi-final clash against Al Sadd.
Also yesterday, Al Arabi, who advanced to the semi-finals ahead of yesterday’s game, ended as runners-up in the group after a 1-1 draw against Al Rayyan at Al Egla 4 pitch, while Al Gharafa finished their campaign in the tournament after a 3-1 win over Al Markhiya at the Al Ersal 2 pitch.
Suhaib Gannan (15th minute) and Michael Olunga (18th minute) gave Al Duhail early command in the match before Al Shamal bounced back in the second half with goals from Abdulrahman Rashid (53rd minute) and Amjad Atwan (58th minute).
A strike from Youssef Ayman in the 75th minute ensured Al Duhail finish the first stage as Group B leaders with 13 points from four wins and a draw.
Al Duhail will now meet Al Sadd, who finished second in Group A with 9 points.
Meanwhile, Al Arabi will face Group A winners Umm Salal in the other semi-final. The Younes Ali-coached side yesterday rallied from a goal down after Moustafa Elsayed Assr put Al Rayyan ahead with a 39th-minute strike. Al Arabi equalised through a goal from Fahad Shnin in the 74th minute to finish the group stage with 10 points.
Elsewhere, Al Gharafa wrapped up their campaign by clinching the third position from 8 points after goals from Yousef Saeed (14th minute), Hassan Muayed (65th minute), and substitute Nasser Al Enazi (90+3’) gave them a commanding victory over Al Markhiya. Driss Fettouhi (21st minute) was the scorer from the losing side.
Al Rayyan finished fourth in Group B with five points followed by Al Shamal, who earned four points from their five matches. Winless Al Markhiya finished on the bottom with just one point.