Qatar SC defeated Al Gharafa 4-3 on penalties in the thrilling Amir Cup semi-final at Al Janoub Stadium on Sunday.
Qatar SC won the penalty shootout after both teams ended regulation time at 2-2. Winners Qatar SC have entered the final of the prestigious tournament for the first time in 20 years and will take on Al Sadd in the final on Friday.
Bruno Tabata had put Qatar SC into the lead with a spot kick in the 53rd minute with Al Gharafa taking the lead after strikes from Ferjani Sassi in the 55th minute and Yacine Brahimi in the 73rd minute. Substitute Ali Awad, who also scored the winning penalty, took the game to extra time with a goal in the 83rd minute as the deadlock persisted following 30 minutes of further action.
After missing a penalty in second half during the regulation time, Brahimi also failed to hit the target in Al Gharafa’s first attempt during the shootout while Fabricio Diaz’s effort also struck the post. Al Gharafa goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar had blocked Javi Martinez’s hit before Qatar SC celebrated their victory after Awad’s winner. Al Sadd, the recently crowned Qatar Stars League (QSL) champion, beat Al Duhail 1-0 in the semi-final on Saturday at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.