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Al Arabi stunned Al Gharafa 2-1 to enter the final of the QNB Cup here at the Qatar Sports Club yesterday. |
The Dream Team – who are second bottom of the QSL – defeated Gharafa with goals from Djordje Rakic and Wanderley, but the game ended on a sour note when Abdulla Maarafiya and Husseine Kharja were sent off for an angry confrontation with Brazilian star Nene. The former PSG star, who was also sent off, clashed with Kharja – which resulted in an angry confrontation with all 22 players.
Gharafa could have taken the lead early after 12 minutes following a fumble from Arabi keeper Rajab Hamza Kassim. He missed a corner from Alex but Mustafa Mohammed Abdi could only head wide. Minutes later the Cheetahs had yet another chance to score first, this time Mark Bresciano releasing Fahid al-Shammari with a brilliant through ball. The midfielder took too long though and the chance was gone.
Arabi responded to the pressure with an attack of their own, but Abdelaziz Mohamed’s shot was brilliantly saved by Abdulaziz Ali Abdulla. Ten minutes before half-time Al Arabi took the lead with a well worked goal.
Brazilian star Wanderley stormed clear, before feeding Djordje Rakic. The striker composed himself before coolly slotting into the bottom corner. Gharafa tried to get back into the game immediately, but Djibril Cisse drilled a shot over the bar. Moments later the French striker wasted another chance when he pulled his shot wide of goal after sprinting into the box.
Eight minutes after the re-start, Al Arabi went looking for a second goal. This time Wanderely cut inside the box and flashed a shot across goal that keeper Ali Abdulla did well to hold.
Just before the hour mark Gharafa introduced Brazilian star Nene in place of Jawad Akeel Ahannach as the Cheetahs looked for an equaliser.
Within minutes the former Paris Saint Germain star almost scored but his shot trundled just wide of the post.
Gharafa were starting to dominate and wanted to make the possession count. Nene forced a great save from Arabi keeper Kazim after drilling a vicious free-kick towards goal.
Despite the pressure it was Abdulaziz Bennij’s side who went straight up the park and almost scored a second. This time Rakic failed to show the same composure in front of goal and sent a wild shot wide of goal.
Eight minutes from time though, it was Gharafa who got the goal and it was Nene who was rewarded for his persistence. The number 10 weaved into the box before drilling low into the bottom corner.
Gharafa were still celebrating when Al Arabi took the lead for the second time. Hussein Kharja whipped in a dangerous free-kick from the left which Wanderely got on the end of to glance a great header into the back of the net. It was a goal completely against the run of play but that wasn’t something that bothered Abdulaziz Bennij or his players.
Gharafa came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 90th minute but Djibri Cisse’s header crashed back off the bar before the ball was cleared to safety.
The second semi-final between Lekhwiya and El Jaish kicks off at 6.30pm tonight at Qatar Sports Club.
