Al-Arabi crowned Qatar FA Cup champions after beating Lusail

Al-Arabi were crowned Qatar FA Cup champions for the 2021–2022 season, beating Lusail 3–2 at Thani bin Jassim Stadium.

Al-Arabi were crowned champions of the second edition of the Qatar FA Cup for the 2021–2022 season, beating Lusail three goals to two in their encounter today at Thani bin Jassim Stadium at Al-Gharafa Club.

Al-Arabi owed the win to their Gabonese international striker Aaron Salem Boupendza, who gave the team the lead in the third minute, before Abdulaziz Al-Ansari doubled the score with a powerful strike from outside the box. Abdullah Al-Marri added Al-Arabi’s third in the 79th minute with a successful finish inside the area, while Lusail’s goals came from Mohammed Kanani, from the penalty spot in the 41st minute, and Abdulrahman Al-Shaghmi in the 49th.

Al-Arabi, who had last won a title with the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2011 by beating Umm Salal 3–2 in the final, had finished runners-up in Group Two behind Lusail with nine points, before knocking out Al-Kharaitiyat in the quarter-finals and then Al-Shamal in the semi-finals on penalties (4–2) after the original time ended 1–1.

For their part, Lusail topped Group Two with ten points before eliminating Al-Bidda in the quarter-finals, then reached the final at the expense of Muaither, whom they beat 2–0 in the semi-finals.

The group-stage meeting between the two sides had seen Lusail win three goals to one.

The current edition of the tournament featured first- and second-division clubs, with the exception of the “Golden Square” sides — Al-Sadd, Al-Duhail, Al-Rayyan and Al-Gharafa — owing to their involvement in the AFC Champions League group stage.