Emirates Cup Quarterfinals Set: Three Winners Earned Their Tickets on a Dramatic Saturday
25 October 2025
Round of 16 results set the stage for the quarterfinals
Shabab Al-Ahli, Khurfakan, and Bani Yas joined United and Al Wahda in the Emirates President’s Cup quarterfinals after a dramatic Saturday of Round of 16 action, with all three matches decided by the end of the day in the UAE.
Shabab Al-Ahli, the holders, advanced to the last eight by beating hosts Al-Bataeh on penalties (4-2) after a goalless 90 minutes at Khalifa bin Mohammed Stadium.
Khourfakan reached the quarters by defeating Kalbaa 2-0 at Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Stadium, while Bani Yas knocked out Al-Nasr 2-0 at Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
Meanwhile, United and Al Wahda had already progressed on Friday: United edged Sharjah on penalties (5-4) after a 1-1 draw, and Al Wahda beat Al-Dhafra 3-1 at Abu Dhabi’s Al Nahyan Stadium.
Shabab Al-Ahli vs Al-Bataeh
The champions’ run to the quarters came amid a tight, tactically solid display, as Shabab Al-Ahli edged clear chances while Al-Bataeh pressed high with a makeshift side missing six regulars.
Defences held firm for most of the game, and the drama arrived late as a substitution and a moment of heroism from Hamad Al-Muqabali kept Shabab Al-Ahli on track, with crucial saves in regular time and extra time.
When penalties decided the tie, Antonio’s early kick was slightly astray, but Hamad Al-Muqabali denied Gianluca’s attempt, sealing the 4-2 shootout triumph for the visitors.
Al-Muqabali was named man of the match for his composure and decisive stops that guided Shabab Al-Ahli to the quarterfinals.
Khourfakan and Kalbaa
Khourfakan sealed their progress by netting twice late in the second half, with Elton Filipe grabbing the opener in the 37th minute and Salim Amallah adding a late second in the 93rd. The match provided a strong performance from Khourfakan and a deserved win over Kalbaa.
Elton Filipe’s overall influence earned him the man-of-the-match award as Khourfakan advanced to the next round.
Al-Nasr and Bani Yas
Bani Yas finally registered a league-winning performance, overcoming Al-Nasr 2-0 at Al-Maktoum Stadium to book a place in the quarterfinals. Yusufu Nyakité opened the scoring in the 35th minute, and Leonel Mbaha (Leòn Wamba) added the second in the 61st, sealing the tie.
Despite late pressure from Al-Nasr, Bani Yas held firm and progressed, with Elton Filipe again highlighted for his all-round performance and contribution to the win.
With these results, the Emirates Cup Round of 16 delivered a weekend of tension, quality football, and a reminder that knockout football can be wonderfully unpredictable.
And for a bit of levity: if defending were an Olympic sport, today’s round would be a gold medal—only this time the sniper-like accuracy was in the back line, not the scoreboard. Punchline: the crossbar should start collecting royalties for all the times it saved a team from heartbreak. Sniper mode: aimed precisely, fired clean, and the celebrations followed like a perfectly timed report from the desk.
