Badji’s penalty heroics send Umm Salal into Amir Cup semi-finals; Al Ahli edge Al Shahania in extra-time

Doha, Qatar: Goalkeeper Landing Badji was the hero as Umm Salal reached the Amir Cup semi finals for the first time in their history, pulling off thre...

Doha, Qatar: Goalkeeper Landing Badji was the hero as Umm Salal reached the Amir Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history, pulling off three stunning saves in a dramatic penalty shootout win over Al Shamal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.

The Senegalese shot-stopper denied Baghdad Bounedjah, Younes Belhanda and Mohamed Musa, securing a 3-2 shootout victory after the teams played out a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes yesterday.

Al Shamal’s goalkeeper Abdallaelrady Elrady briefly kept his side in the contest by blocking Ali Al-Muhannadi’s effort, but Victor Lekhal, Antonio Mance and Ahmed Mohammed all converted for Umm Salal to seal a historic win for the Orange Fortress.

Earlier, Naim Sliti had put Al Shamal ahead in the 53rd minute, finishing a swift counter-attack initiated by Omar Mohammed. Umm Salal responded through Mance, who made up for an earlier miss by capitalising on a defensive error from Musa, calmly firing home from the edge of the box. With no breakthrough in extra time, it was Badji who sealed the moment for the ages.

Meanwhile, Al Ahli came from behind to defeat Al Shahania 2-1 in extra time, with Sekou Oumar Yansane scoring the decisive goal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Al Shahania struck early through Hamdi Naguez, who headed in after Moaz Tawhed’s long-range shot struck the crossbar in the 7th minute. Al Ahli pressed for an equaliser, with Yansane narrowly missing before Hamad Mansour finally leveled the score in the 68th minute, finishing neatly after receiving a left-sided cross.