Muaither players celebrate their victory.
Doha, Qatar: Goalkeeper Majed Abdullatif emerged as the hero as Second Division side Muaither stunned Al Arabi 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw to reach the QSL Cup final for the first time in their history.
Muaither impressed throughout the semi-final at Thani bin Jassim Stadium but were denied victory in regulation time by a dramatic last-gasp equaliser from Alexis Perez, which forced the match into penalties.
Abdullatif, outstanding all evening, rose to the occasion in the shootout, producing diving saves to deny Jordan Veretout, Isaac Lehadj and Rodri to seal a famous victory.
Muaither had a setback of their own in the shootout, with Mohamed Saeed Ibrahim saving Mohamed Rabie’s effort.
Muaither will now face Al Rayyan SC in the final scheduled on April 17 at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. Al Rayyan advanced after edging Umm Salal SC 17-16 in a marathon shootout following a 3-3 draw in the first semi-final on Saturday.
The match began at a blistering pace, with three goals inside the opening 11 minutes. Joao Pedro Daros put Al Arabi ahead in the seventh minute, heading in from close range after a pinpoint cross from Rodri.
The lead lasted just a minute, as Etyan Morales equalised with a composed finish from inside the box after being played through by Abdulmajid Anad.
Fouad Saleh then fired Muaither ahead in the 11th minute, slotting home from a tight angle following a clever through ball from captain Albert Ramis Luque.
Al Arabi pushed for equaliser, with Wassem Keddari off target from a promising position, while Salem Reda dictated attacking play.
At the other end, Ibrahim produced a key save to deny Luque’s powerful long-range effort as Muaither threatened on the counter.
Pablo Sarabia, fresh from a brace in the quarter-final against Al Waab, missed a good chance after being set up by Rodri.
Muaither extended their lead just before half-time when Ibrahim brought down Morales in the box. Luque converted the penalty with a low finish into the left corner to make it 3-1 at the break. Sarabia reduced the deficit six minutes into the second half, rising highest to head home Rodri’s cross from the right.
Al Arabi continued to press, with Sarabia going close again, only for Abdullatif to produce a superb punch to keep the ball out. Rodri remained at the heart of the attack and created another opening for Lehadj, but the substitute was denied by a timely sliding block.
Abdullatif then made crucial saves to deny both Rodri and Veretout, preserving Muaither’s advantage.
However, he had no answer to Perez, who fired a powerful left-footed strike from inside the box in eighth minute of stoppage time to level the match at 3-3 and force penalties.
Muaither held their nerve in the shootout, with Abdullatif’s heroics sealing a historic place in the final.
