Al-Khor and Al Bidda SC played out a goalless draw over 120 minutes in the QFA Cup semi-final at the Grand Hamad Stadium, with the match ultimately decided by a penalty shootout that ended 6-5 to Al Bidda SC. The 11 penalties taken across the shootout tell the story of a contest that neither side could separate in open play, with Al Bidda SC converting one more than their opponents to reach the final. The Lemeister model had forecast a narrow advantage for Al-Khor, giving them a 37 per cent chance of victory compared with 34 per cent for Al Bidda SC, but the data from the match itself reveals a tightly contested affair that defied the pre-match projection.
The first period of the match was defined by defensive discipline and limited attacking output. Al Bidda SC received three yellow cards inside the first 49 minutes, a signal of their physical approach, while Al-Khor collected two cautions later in the contest, one in the 81st minute and another in extra time. With no shots on target recorded in the available data, neither side created a meaningful chance from open play, and the expected goals figure remains absent, further underlining the lack of clear-cut opportunities. The midfield battle was congested, and both defences held firm, ensuring the deadlock persisted through 90 minutes and into the additional half-hour.
The penalty shootout began in the 121st minute and unfolded as a test of nerve from the spot. Both teams converted their first five penalties in alternating order, with each successful kick raising the tension. The breakthrough came in the 126th minute, when Al Bidda SC scored their sixth penalty, while Al-Khor could not match that effort. The shootout tally of 11 penalties indicates that one side missed or had a kick saved, though the data does not specify which. Al Bidda SC's ability to maintain composure under pressure proved decisive in a match where no outfield player could find the net from open play.
Passing statistics and possession figures are not available in the match data, but the card count offers insight into the contest's rhythm. Al Bidda SC's three yellow cards in the first half suggest they were forced into tactical fouls, perhaps to disrupt Al-Khor's build-up play. Al-Khor's two cautions, both later in the match and in extra time, hint at growing frustration as the game remained scoreless. The absence of substitutions for either side, with zero changes recorded, implies that both managers trusted their starting lineups to see out the full duration, a reflection of the even nature of the contest.
The result means Al Bidda SC advance to the QFA Cup final, having overcome the slight pre-match odds against them. For Al-Khor, the defeat ends their cup run at the semi-final stage, a disappointment given the Lemeister model had them as marginal favourites. The shootout victory gives Al Bidda SC a chance to win silverware, and their ability to convert six of seven penalties will be a source of confidence heading into the final. The match will be remembered for its defensive solidity and dramatic resolution from the spot rather than any flowing football.
