Al Ahli booked a spot in the semifinals of 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup after bouncing back from being a goal down to thrash Al Markhiya 4-1 at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Wednesday.

Al Markhiya gave a good account of themselves in the quarterfinal, holding their fancied rivals at bay in the first half and also fetching the lead following some smart work by their star player Yusupha Njie, who set up the goal.

The Brigadiers, however, upped the ante in the second half and romped Al Markhiya with attacking play.

While Moayed Hassan (31st minute) scored Al Markhiya’s only goal, Ali Qaderi (53rd minute), Danilo Arboleda (59th minute), Noor Rahman (70th-minute own goal) and substitute Julian Draxler (73rd minute) got the goals for Al Ahli.

With Al Markhiya matching the skills of Al Ahli, it was a keen tussle as both sides battled to keep possession of the ball and also made some incisive forays.

Al Markhiya found success when Nije took a pass from Ali Saeed Al Mohannadi while holding three defenders in check and then flipped the ball over his head before moving it right to an unmarked Moayed Hassan to score.

The setback left Al Ahli searching for some answers, but only briefly as they hit back in the second session. The equalizer had a major contribution from Oumar Sekou as he worked his way dribbling past defenders, but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Ali Qaderi latched on to the rebound to do the needful.

Al Ahli soon took the lead as Arboleda headed in the ball off a free-kick from Naim Sliti.

Al Markhiya then dashed their own hopes as Noor Rahman’s effort to keep a long Sliti lob away only resulted in him heading the ball into his own goal (3-1).

A delightful fourth goal came Al Ahli’s way after Sekou made a sprint from near the centre line to beat an Al Markhiya defender and he passed the ball to Draxler inside the box. Draxler then beat two defenders and the goalkeeper before eventually kicking the ball in with his heel to score.