Muaither's goalkeeper Majed Abdullatif is tossed in the air as players celebrate their win over Al Arabi in the semi-final.
Doha, Qatar: Muaither head into uncharted territory brimming with belief after storming into their maiden QSL Cup final, with the ambitious Second Division side now targeting a historic title in the revamped competition next month.
Impressive from the beginning, Muaither finished level on points with Umm Salal and just five behind table-toppers Al Rayyan in the league phase, where all 20 teams played 10 matches each in the expanded format. Their consistency quickly marked them out as serious contenders.
The side carried that momentum into the knockout rounds, overcoming Al Kharaitiyat in the play-off before producing a stirring 3-2 comeback victory over Al Markhiya in the quarter-finals.
Under coach Nabil El-Zhar, Muaither rose to the occasion again on Sunday, punching above their weight to edge First Division side Al Arabi 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 3-3 draw in the semi-final.
Goalkeeper Majed Abdullatif proved decisive, saving three penalties to seal victory after Al Arabi had forced spot-kicks with a last-gasp equaliser from Alexis Perez.
“All the players gave their best and fought until the final moment of a tough semi-final,” said Muaither defender Monkez Adi.
“Al Arabi are a great team with quality players. They pushed us all the way, but our determination guided us to victory,” he added.
Adi believes Muaither can raise their level even further when they face Al Rayyan in the final on April 17.
“We will put up the same show against Al Rayyan, or even better. Our target is clear - to lift the QSL Cup,” he said.
Standing in their way are Al Rayyan, who are equally driven to end their trophy drought, with their last silverware coming in the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2018.
The Lions are enjoying a solid campaign in the ongoing season, sitting fourth in the Qatar Stars League (QSL), reaching the Amir Cup quarter-finals, and remaining in contention for the Gulf Club Champions League title.
They booked their place in the final after edging Umm Salal 17-16 in a marathon penalty shootout, following a 3-3 draw in Saturday’s semi-final.
Al Rayyan goalkeeper Samy Beldi expressed his team’s determination ahead of the decider.
“Our goal has been clear from the beginning - to fight for the title and win it. That is exactly what we will aim to do in the final,” he said.
The final will be played at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, with Al Rayyan set to turn their focus to a QSL clash against Al Sadd on April 4.
