Al Arabi and Umm Salal Secure Dominant Wins in QSL Cup

In a decisive final round of the QSL Cup held on March 15, 2024, Al Arabi and Umm Salal achieved significant victories, enhancing their playoff aspirations. Al Arabi delivered an impressive performance, defeating Al Sadd 5-0 at Al Khor Stadium, while Umm Salal blanked Al Duhail 3-0 at Grand Hamad Stadium.

Al Arabi’s Dominance Over Al Sadd

Al Arabi showcased their strength with a blistering start, taking a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime. The goals came from Karl Toko Ekambi in the fourth minute, followed by strikes from Gerard Hernandez (19), Salem Reda (23), and Mohamad Khalid Gouda (35). Joao Pedro Daros capped off the rout in the second half, sealing a comprehensive victory.

With this win, Al Arabi concluded their league stage with 19 points, securing a mid-table position, while Al Sadd finished at the bottom, managing only five points throughout the tournament.

Umm Salal’s Path to the Quarter-Finals

Umm Salal bolstered their chances of advancing directly to the quarter-finals with their 3-0 win against Al Duhail. Goals from Ali Afif (25), Cristo Gonzalez (37), and Abdullah Khalid Al Sheikh (87) ensured a solid performance. Currently, Umm Salal holds second place in the standings with 20 points, trailing Al Rayyan, who lead with 25 points.

The tournament format allows the top two teams to progress directly to the knockout stage, while teams ranked third to fourteenth will compete in knockout rounds for the remaining quarter-final slots. As of now, Muaither, Al Shahania, and Al Markhiya, each with 17 points, are yet to play their final matches.

Al Duhail’s defeat confirmed their elimination from the competition, finishing the league stage with a disappointing nine points.

Qatar SC and Other Results

At Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, Qatar SC edged past Al Gharafa with a 3-2 victory, securing their spot in the knockout stage. Sebastian Soria, Yan Matheus, and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim put Qatar SC ahead with a 3-0 lead in the first half. Although Al Gharafa fought back with goals from Rabeh Boussafi and Ibrahim Tamer, they fell short, concluding the stage with five points.

In another matchup, Al Sailiya triumphed over Al Ahli 2-1, finishing with a total of 18 points. Yousef Zaid and Mohammad Ostadi scored for Al Sailiya, while Younes Husein netted a penalty for Al Ahli, who ended the tournament with nine points.

Action in the final round continues today, with three matches scheduled: Al Markhiya will face Al Wakrah, Al Kharaitiyat will meet Al Shamal, and Al Waab will take on Al Shahania.