Al Ahli secured the Challenge Cup in a dramatic conclusion to the Qatar-UAE Super Cup, defeating Al Jazira 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Abu Dhabi. The trophy was presented by the chief executives of both the Qatar Stars League and the UAE Pro League after a tense and closely contested final.
Al Ahli secured the Challenge Cup in a dramatic conclusion to the Qatar-UAE Super Cup, defeating Al Jazira 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in Abu Dhabi. The trophy was presented by the chief executives of both the Qatar Stars League and the UAE Pro League after a tense and closely contested final.
The match appeared to be heading in the host's favor after Brazilian forward Vinicius Mello broke the deadlock for Al Jazira early in the second half. However, Al Ahli found a dramatic equalizer in the third minute of stoppage time, with Julian Draxler heading home a precise cross from Michel Vlap to force the match to penalties.
The subsequent penalty shootout was a tense affair, requiring a sudden-death round to find a winner. Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif made a crucial save against Vinicius Mello, while two Al Jazira players missed the target entirely. For the victors, Suhaib Gannan held his nerve to score the decisive kick, prompting celebrations from his teammates.
The victory marks a triumphant return to competitive success for Al Ahli, who showcased resilience to fight back late and composure to prevail from the spot. The defeat was a bitter one for Al Jazira, who came within moments of lifting the cup on home soil before the late twist in regulation time.
