Umm Salal face Al Arabi in the semifinal of 2022-2023 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Sadd Stadium on Thursday, March 23, 2023. The kick-off is at 21:45.

Umm Salal qualified for the knockout semifinal by topping Group A with 13 points (four wins and one draw). The Orange Fortress were the only unbeaten side in the group.

Al Sadd, Qatar SC, Al Ahli, Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya, who finished in that order, were the other teams in the group.

On the other hand, Al Arabi progressed to the semifinal as runners-up of Group B with 10 points (three wins, one draw and a defeat).

Al Duhail, Al Arabi, Al Gharafa, Al Rayyan, Al Shamal and Al Markhiya finished in that order in the group.

No doubt, both coaches Talal El Karkouri of Umm Salal and Younes Ali of Al Arabi will be adopting special strategies for their wards to advance to the final.

Umm Salal and Al Arabi are having contrasting fortunes in the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League.

Al Arabi are second in the table with 37 points, just two points adrift of Al Duhail, while Umm Salal are languishing at the 11th place with 13 points.

However, Ooredoo Cup is a different ballgame altogether, as proved by Umm Salal while emerging as the Group A winners.

So, the game promises to be lively.