Doha: Striker Mohammed Muntari came off the bench to fire a brace as Al Gharafa fought back from two goals down to beat Umm Salal 4-2 in the second Amir Cup semi-final at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday.
Chasing their first Amir Cup title since their 2012 triumph, Pedro Martins’ Al Gharafa will meet Al Rayyan in a mouthwatering title clash at Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday. Al Rayyan eased into the final, having blanked Al Ahli 3-0 in the first semi-final on Sunday.
However, Al Gharafa were stunned by Umm Salal early in the match, as they gained a two-goal cushion following Othman Al Yahri’s 12th-minute strike and an own goal by Aron Gunnarsson in the 23rd minute.
Joselu pulled one back in the 40th minute, with Muntari – who came on in the 35th minute – leveling the scores in the 45+4th minute. Yacine Brahimi then secured the lead for Al
Gharafa in the 45+14th minute by converting a penalty, with Muntari sealing the victory with a spectacular overhead kick in the 52nd minute.
Al Gharafa started the match on the front foot, dominating possession early on. However, Umm Salal’s Antonio Mance had the first real attempt on goal, but Gunnarsson was right there to clear after goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar was caught out of position.
Mance then turned provider, setting up the opening goal with a well-timed pass to Al-Yahri on the right side, who slotted the ball into the far corner past Ababacar.
Goalkeeper Landing Badji blocked Ferjani Sassi’s header off a cross as Al Gharafa pushed for an equaliser. But Umm Salal doubled their lead in unusual fashion, as Gunnarsson, trying to block a long delivery aimed at Mance, inadvertently lobbed the ball into his own net. Ababacar had advanced and had no chance to stop it.
Martins sent in Muntari for defender Dame Traore ten minutes before the first half ended, as Al Gharafa looked to bounce back — and the move paid off. Joselu pulled one back after Badji parried a shot from Ahmed Al Ganehi, who was set up by Brahimi after a brilliant run down the left. Joselu reacted quickly and finished from close range to bring his team back into the match.
Al Gharafa continued to press and Rodrigo saw his shot stopped by Badji, but they finally leveled the scores. Gunnarsson sent a long delivery into the box and Muntari surged forward and volleyed the ball from close range to make it 2-2.
Then, in dramatic first-half stoppage time, Al Gharafa were awarded a penalty after a long VAR check. Gunnarsson’s header off a corner kick struck Omar Yahya’s fingertips, and Brahimi comfortably netted from the spot.
Seven minutes into the second half, Muntari sealed the victory with a stunning goal. Brahimi curled in a ball to Rodrigo, who set up Muntari with a headed pass. The striker’s first attempt ricocheted off the bar, but he fired a fabulous overhead kick to put Al Gharafa 4-2 ahead.
Amro Surag wasted a chance to score a fifth goal in the 79th minute, as Al Gharafa continued to dominate. Badji stopped Brahimi’s close-range shot and several other attempts late in the match, but Al Gharafa had already done enough to march into the final in style.
