The Peninsula
Qatar football giants Al Duhail and Al Sadd are gearing up for the Ooredoo Cup semi-final that is expected to produce thrilling action at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow.
Al Duhail made it to the knockout semi-finals by topping Group B with 13 points (four wins and one draw). The Red Knights were the only unbeaten side in the group.
Al Arabi, Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Shamal and Al Markhiya, who finished in that order, were the other teams in Group B.
On the other hand, Al Sadd reached the semi-finals as runners-up of Group A with nine points (three wins and two losses).
Umm Salal, Al Sadd, Qatar SC, Al Ahli, Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya, who finished in that order, constituted Group A.
Both teams are doing well, with Al Duhail leading the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League standings with 39 points and Al Sadd occupying the third place with 32 points in the group.
They both faced off recently in the league’s postponed match from Week 10, which ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw. The match will also see tactical battle between coaches Hernan Crespo of Al Duhail and Juanma of Al Sadd, who both are good at making the best use of available resources. Both sides include a number of outstanding players.
Al Duhail have the likes of league top scorer Michael Olunga, Almoez Ali, Nam Tae-Hee, Ferjani Sassi and Ismail Mohammed.
Al Sadd rely more on their spearhead Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif, Santi Cazorla and Hassan Al Haydous. The match will kick-off at 21:45.
Umm Salal face Al Arabi
Meanwhile, Umm Salal face Al Arabi in the other semifinal that will simultaneously take place at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Umm Salal qualified for the knockout semifinal by topping Group A with 13 points (four wins and one draw). The Orange Fortress were the only unbeaten side in the group.
On the other hand, Al Arabi progressed to the semifinal as runners-up of Group B with 10 points (three wins, one draw and a defeat).
No doubt, both coaches Talal El Karkouri of Umm Salal and Younes Ali of Al Arabi will be adopting special strategies for their wards to advance to the final.
Umm Salal and Al Arabi are having contrasting fortunes in the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League.
Al Arabi are second in the table with 37 points, just two points adrift of Al Duhail, while Umm Salal are languishing at the 11th place with 13 points.
However, Ooredoo Cup is a different ball game altogether, as proved by Umm Salal while emerging as the Group A winners.