DOHA (Qatar): Al Duhail will take on Al Sailiya in the first semifinal of 2020 Qatar Cup at the Al Sadd Stadium on January 10.
The kick-off is at 19:30.
Duhail qualified for the Qatar Cup’s sixth edition by virtue of finishing second in the 2018-19 Qatar Stars League (QSL). They ended up behind Al Sadd with 50 points (15 wins, five draws and two defeats). The Red Knights scored 52 goals and conceded 17 to have a goal difference of 35.
Duhail are strong contenders in all tournaments and have stability on the technical front. Portuguese coach Rui Faria, who took over the side last season, continued this season.
There is no doubt that stability has played a big role in the team’s outstanding run in the current season, as is evident from their lead position in the 2019-20 QSL, which has taken a break now.
Faria is an experienced coach. He guided Al Duhail to Amir Cup triumph last season and will certainly be eyeing Qatar Cup success.
Duhail boasts of some outstanding Qatar internationals Karim Boudiaf, Mohammed Muntari, Ahmed Yasser and Ismail Mohammed.
Sultan Al Breik and Assim Madibo have recovered from their injuries even as another Qatar international Bassam Al Rawi is nursing an injury.
During the ongoing winter transfer window, they strengthened their ranks by roping in Croatian star Mario Mandzukic.
Other overseas professional players are Moroccan Mehdi Benatia, Tunisian Yousef Msakni, Belgian-Brazilian Paulo Edmilson and Iraqi Mohanad Ali, who was recruited at the beginning of this season.
Al Duhail, who had won the Qatar Cup in its second edition in 2014-15, will undoubtedly be keen to repeat that achievement.
