Al Duhail’s Adel Boulbina (centre) celebrates with teammates.
DOHA: Al Duhail reached the Amir Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Al Waab in their Round of 16 clash at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday. Al Wakrah also advanced after beating Al Sailiya by the same scoreline.
Adel Boulbina put Al Duhail ahead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute, while Krzysztof Piatek sealed the win with a late strike in the 87th.
Al Waab threatened early, with Ousseynou Gueye breaking into the area and forcing a save from goalkeeper Salah Zakaria in the seventh minute.
The breakthrough came when Abdoulaye Bakayoko fouled inside the box, allowing Boulbina to convert from the spot and give Al Duhail a 1-0 lead at the break.
Al Wakrah’s Omar Salah (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring team's first goal.
Al Waab came close to leveling after halftime, but Bahaa Faisal’s powerful effort rattled the crossbar in the 52nd minute, as Al Duhail held firm before Piatek wrapped up the result late on.
“We went into the match determined to win and reach the quarter-finals, given the importance of this tournament,” said Boulbina after the match.
“In these games, the key is getting the result, and we did that. The season is still long, and our focus remains on the Amir Cup and the AFC Champions League,” he added.
Al Duhail will face the winners of the Al Arabi vs Al Shahania clash, scheduled for today at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, in the quarter-finals. Al Shamal will take on Qatar SC at Grand Hamad Stadium in the other match today.
Meanwhile, second-half strikes from Omar Salah and Redouane Berkane secured Al Wakrah’s 2-0 win against Al Sailiya later in the evening. Salah capitalised on a defensive error to break the deadlock in the 58th minute, while Berkane sealed the victory five minutes before time.
Al Wakrah will now meet either Al Rayyan or Al Khor, who will face each other at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow.
