Football

Rome: Venezia secured promotion to Serie A after a 2-2 draw with Spezia in their penultimate Serie B match today. Venezia took a 2-0 lead through goals from German John Yeboah and Belgian Richie Sagrado in the 7th and 70th minutes, respectively. However, Spezia fought back to level the score with late goals from Mattia Valoti and Gabriele Artestico in the 73rd and 90th minutes. Venezia now sits atop the Serie A standings with 79 points, one point ahead of second-placed Frosinone, who defeated Juve Stabia 1-0. Frosinone needs just one point in their final match to secure the second automatic promotion spot. The teams finishing third through eighth will compete in a playoff to determine the third team to be promoted to Serie A.

Qatar Sport

Doha: Defending champions Al Gharafa SC advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 Amir Cup after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Umm Salal SC in their quarter-final encounter on Friday at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. The win secures Al Gharafa's place in the last four of the tournament, where they will face Al Wakrah SC, who earlier defeated Al Rayyan 3-0. Al Gharafa, eight-time champions of the competition, continue their title defense with momentum. Umm Salal made a dream start, taking the lead in the 8th minute through Micheal Baidoo. The goal followed a strong run by Jean Kouassi, whose initial shot was saved before Baidoo reacted quickest to convert the rebound. Al Gharafa responded swiftly, leveling the score in the 18th minute. Yacine Brahimi won possession in midfield and played a precise pass to Ahmed Al Ganehi, who drove into the box and finished clinically past the goalkeeper. Momentum gradually shifted in Al Gharafa's favor, and they came close to taking the lead shortly before the half-hour mark when Al Ganehi missed a clear one-on-one chance. However, the breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute, as Ferjani Sassi met a cross from Ryan Al Ali and converted to put his side ahead. In the second half, Umm Salal pushed forward in search of an equalizer, creating several opportunities. Their best chance fell to Oussama Tannane in the 57th minute, but his powerful long-range effort narrowly missed the target. Al Gharafa managed the remainder of the match effectively, maintaining their advantage to secure victory and book a semi-final showdown with Al Wakrah in what promises to be a compelling encounter.

Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: Football fans across Qatar and the region can purchase tickets for the Amir Cup Final 2026 at herestarting tomorrow at 1PM, with the country's most anticipated sporting event set to take place on 9 May, 5:30pm, at Khalifa International Stadium. Now in its 54th edition, the Amir Cup brought together 20 clubs from across Qatar's first and second division to compete for the coveted trophy. Among the contenders are some of the most decorated names in Amir Cup history, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive run to the final. Tickets will be available at www.qfa.qa in the following categories: - CAT 1: QAR 50 -CAT 2: QAR 30 -CAT 3: QAR 10 -Accessibility: QAR 10 Fans can purchase up to six tickets per person. Upon purchase, tickets will be made available on the Road to Qatar mobile app on 7 May. Accessibility tickets can be requested at: accessibility.tickets@sc.qa. The final will be complemented by a fan zone at Khalifa International Stadium, where attendees can enjoy a range of entertainment and cultural activities before and during the match. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to make the most of the fan zone experience and be in their seats ahead of kick-off. Adding to the excitement, a selection of exclusive prizes will be up for grabs through a live prize draw held during the match. This year, Khalifa International Stadium marks 50 years since its inauguration in 1976. Located in Aspire Zone, the venue has served as the stage for some of the nation's greatest sporting occasions, including matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. For more information on the Amir Cup Final 2026, follow @roadtoqatar and @qfa on all major social media platforms.