Qatar SC captain Alejandro Jimena (left) vies for the ball with Al Shamal's Yannick Sagbo during their Amir Cup Round of 16 match played at Qatar SC Stadium. Picture: Hussein Sayed
New signing Michael Olunga fired a hat-trick on his Amir Cup debut as former champions Al Duhail yesterday scored three goals in each half to crush Al Ahli 6-0 and cruise into the quarter-finals of the country’s most popular tournament at Grand Hamad Stadium.
Also yesterday, Second Division side Al Shamal stunned Qatar SC (5-4) on penalties after a 2-2 draw, while Al Kharaitiyat edged Al Wakrah 2-1 to book their last-8 spots.
Kenyan striker Olunga, who joined Al Duhail from Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol, continued his last season’s performance that gave him Golden Boot in J-League to send Nebojsa Jovovic-coached Al Ahli packing.
Edmilson Junior was also in outstanding form for Al Duhail yesterday, scoring two goals while assisting Olunga twice.
Olunga, opened his account by converting a penalty in the 6th minute before scoring his second goal in 42nd minute from an assist by Edmilson Junior. The 6’4” inch tall striker completed his hat-trick by netting a goal in 68th minute, again assisted by Edmilson, who scored his goals in 21st and 90th minutes.
Luiz Junior, who found target in 77th minute was other scorer for the ‘Red Knights’ who dominated the Round of 16 clash with 55 per cent of ball possession.
At the Qatar SC Stadium yesterday, underdogs Al Shamal put up a gallant fight to defeat hosts Qatar SC, who made exit in the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year in the tournament after their defeat to Al Ahli last year.
Al Shamal, the runners-up in Qatari Second Division League, stunned Younis Ali-coached Qatar SC with a 5th minute goal through Ivory Coast’s Yannick Sagbo. After dominating the proceedings, ‘The Kings’ struck an equaliser through Khaled Mansour with four minutes left in the first half.
Qatar SC’s aggressive approach paid off with Algerian winger Youssef Belaïli handing them a lead at an hour-mark after Al Shamal were reduced to 10 men following a red card to Jeremy de Nooijer in the 55th minute. But Al Shamal bounced back in the sea-saw contest with Sagbo scoring his second goal in the 67th minute to level the score, pushing the knockout clash to tie-breaker.
Nothing separated the two sides in the penalties too until Ahmed Fadhil Hesaba struck goal post against diving goalkeeper Babacar Seck, leaving Al Shamal in jubilation.
Meanwhile, Mohammed Osman scored the winner for Al Kharaitiyat in the 85th minute as Al Wakrah made early exit in the tournament after taking a lead. Abdennour Belhocini scored for Al Wakrah in the 44th minute, with Rachid Tiberkanine levelling the score for Al Kharaitiyat with a spot kick in 55th minute before Osman secured victory.
In today’s matches, defending champions Al Sadd will clash with Muaither at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium while Al Gharafa and Al Shahania will confront at Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium. Al Rayyan will square of with Al Markhiya in today’s first Round of 16 match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
