Al Rayyan players celebrate their victory against Umm Salal in the QSL Cup semi-final.
Doha, Qatar: Al Rayyan showed remarkable fighting spirit to reach the QSL Cup final, edging Umm Salal 17-16 in a marathon penalty shootout after coming from behind to secure a 3-3 draw in the first semi-final at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Umm Salal twice took a two-goal advantage during regulation time, but Al Rayyan displayed great determination with Rodrigo striking a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage time to send the semi-final to penalties.
The shootout turned into a marathon affair, with strikers from both sides demonstrating impressive composure and preparation.
With the score locked at 16-16, Gregore calmly converted his second penalty, but Abdulaziz Hazaa missed his attempt, scooping the ball over the bar and sparking celebrations in Al Rayyan’s camp.
It was a tense start for Vicente Moreno, the new Al Rayyan coach, who was seen praying throughout the penalty shootout. Moreno, who replaced Artur Jorge last week, moved from Al Wakrah to take charge of the team.
Al Rayyan will now await their final opponents as Muaither face Al Arabi in the second semi-final at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium today. The final is scheduled for April 17.
Cristo Perez gave Umm Salal an early lead, converting a fifth-minute penalty after Gregore was penalised for bringing down Salem Ali Al-Hajri inside the box. Perez calmly slotted the ball into the centre of the net, sending goalkeeper Samy Beldi the wrong way.
Umm Salal looked in good rhythm and Perez nearly doubled their advantage, but Beldi denied a powerful shot from the Spanish forward at the edge of the box.
Al Rayyan won several corners in their pursuit of an equaliser, but Umm Salal extended their lead in the 30th minute when Al-Hajri struck with a sliding shot following a free kick.
Rodrigo came close to responding, hitting the bar as Al Rayyan intensified their attacks.
Tiago Silva finally pulled one back in the 40th minute, his corner kick finding the far right side of the net after evading defenders and Al Rayyan players.
Gregore’s shot from outside the box flew over the bar, and Hazem Shehata failed to connect with a close-range volley from a lob as Al Rayyan went into the break trailing by one goal.
The second half saw a fast start, with Umm Salal’s Oussama Tannane narrowly missing with an angled strike, while goalkeeper Rami Hamada denied Al Rayyan’s Abdalla Sirelkhatim Yousif.
Umm Salal regained a two-goal advantage in the 65th minute through Jean Evrard Kouassi, who finished a fast-break after Perez delivered a ball to Tannane, who set up Kouassi for a sliding finish from the centre of the box.
Al Rayyan kept up relentless pressure, and substitute Gabriel Pereira reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining, striking from outside the box despite a deflection off a defender.
The fightback was completed in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Rodrigo connected with a cross from the right, sending the match to penalties where Hazaa’s missed spot-kick ultimately handed Al Rayyan a dramatic place in the final.
