Al Duhail players celebrate after beating Al Kharaitiyat yesterday.
Defending champions Al Duhail defeated Al Kharaitiyat 1-0 to move into the quarter-finals of the 51st Amir Cup at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, yesterday.
The Hernan Crespo’s side will now meet Umm Salal, who edged Al Khor 1-0 following a stoppage time strike by Yaseen Al Bakhit in the first Round of 16 clash.
The schedule of the quarter-finals is yet to be announced.
The Red Knights, who are leading the QNB Stars League (QSL) standings, showed a strong performance against their second division opponents in both the halves enjoying over 75 percent ball possession.
But they couldn’t manage to score more goals from four more shots on target after Ismaeel Mohammad put them ahead in the 12th minute, netting a low hit after receiving a lob from captain Luiz Martin.
Al Kharaitiyat excelled late in the match taking both their shots on target in the final moments but Al Duhail goalkeeper Shehab Mamdouh ensured his team’s march into the quarters with good saves.
Earlier at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, Umm Salal after dominating Al Khor throughout the match finally found the decisive goal in 90+2 minutes when Bakhit fired a clinical hit in the side netting following an assist from Adel Alawi.
Umm Salal, who fired eight shots on target, could have scored more goals but young Al Khor goalkeeper Ali Nader made some impressive saves to restrict the damage.
Al Sadd begin quest for record-extending 19th title
Meanwhile, Al Sadd – tournament’s most successful side – will start their campaign with a Round of 16 match against Al Markhiya at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium today.
Al Sadd last won the Amir Cup title in 2021 which was their record-extending 18th crown.
Al Sadd did not start the season well but bounced back strongly after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 break. They are currently third in the QSL, still in contention to win the Falcon Shield for the third consecutive year.
Umm Salal's Yaseen Al Bakhit celebrates after scoring a stoppage time winner against Al Khor.
Coach Juan Manuel Lillo hinted at change in Al Sadd’s tactics in the Amir Cup.
“The Amir Cup is an important tournament and we are ready to win it despite the challenges. Al Markhiya is a strong club. Our plans for the Cup are different, compared to the league,” Al Sadd coach said yesterday.
Al Markhiya coach Abdullah Mubarak said the team was pumped up ahead of the meeting against the giants.
“The Amir Cup is a big and prestigious tournament, and everyone can dream of competing for the title. Facing Al Sadd gives our team strong motivation, and our aim is to go as far as possible in the championship,” Mubarak said.
Al Rayyan eye turnaround at Amir Cup
The Amir Cup offers a golden opportunity to Al Rayyan, who want to make amends after going out of the QSL title hunt.
After poor showing in the league, the Lions are struggling on 10th position in the standings with coach Nicolas Cordova hoping for a turnaround in the prestigious tournament.
Al Rayyan will meet Al Sailiya in their Round of 16 match at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, today.
“The Amir Cup is the only tournament in which Al Rayyan is currently competing [for title], and we are working hard to achieve a good result. Al Sailiya is a stubborn team, and defeating them is not a simple matter. We want to reach the farthest possible point in the tournament,” said Cordova.
Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi whose team is on the bottom in the QSL was also hoping to make fans happy with a good show in Amir Cup.
“The Amir Cup is the most prestigious tournament, and our goal is to get the opportunity to greet His Highness the Amir in the final. The task will not be easy against Al Rayyan, but we aim to win tomorrow,” said Trabelsi.
