19-05-2025
Al Gharafa beat Umm Salal 4-2 to book Amir Cup final berth
Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Gharafa booked their place in the Amir Cup final with a pulsating 4–2 win over Umm Salal in the semi-finals on Monday night at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium. Gharafa will face Al Rayyan in what promises to be a thrilling final on May 24 at the Khalifa International Stadium.
In a dramatic first half, Umm Salal raced to a 2–0 lead through Othman al-Yahri and an own goal by Aron Gunnarsson. But Al Gharafa roared back before the break — former Real Madrid forward Joselu halved the deficit five minutes before halftime, before substitute Mohammed Muntari struck the equaliser.
Moments later, Yacine Brahimi calmly converted a penalty to give Al Gharafa a 3–2 lead heading into the interval.
Muntari added his second of the night in the second half to seal a memorable win for Al Gharafa, who will now face Al Rayyan in the final of the 53rd edition of Qatar's most prestigious tournament.
The final promises fireworks as both teams look to add to their trophy haul. It will be the fourth Amir Cup meeting between the two sides, with Al Gharafa having won the most recent clash 4–2 in last year's quarter-finals.
Al Gharafa winger Ahmed Al Ganehi admitted his side made things difficult for themselves early on, but praised the team's fighting spirit.
'It was a tough match. We gave Umm Salal the lead due to our mistakes, but we bounced back beautifully,' he said.
'Winning this prestigious trophy is a dream for all of us. There's one more obstacle ahead. The final will be tough, but we promise our fans that we'll give everything to win the Amir Cup. I hope even more fans will come out to support us in the final.'
Al Gharafa will face Al Rayyan in what promises to be a thrilling final.
The two sides have a storied rivalry in the Amir Cup, with this being their fourth meeting in the competition. Their most notable clash came in the 2008 final, where Al Rayyan emerged victorious.
In the 2016 edition, Al Gharafa edged past Al Rayyan on penalties in the third round. Most recently, Al Gharafa defeated Al Rayyan 4–2 in last year's quarter-finals.
Tickets on sale for final
Meanwhile, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) has released tickets for the Amir Cup a move to ensure accessibility for all, ticket prices have been structured to accommodate different budgets.
First Class tickets are priced at QR50, Second Class at QR30 and Third Class at just QR10. Each individual can purchase up to ten tickets, and a variety of electronic payment methods are available to facilitate smooth and secure transactions. Fans can book their tickets directly through the official QFA ticketing portal at making the process convenient and user-friendly.
Adding to the festive spirit, ticket holders will also have access to a range of pre-match activities designed to enhance the overall fan experience. These include interactive zones, entertainment for families and children, and entry into prize draws with valuable giveaways, courtesy of the tournament's sponsors and partners.
