Eight Teams Surge into Emirates Cup Quarterfinals After a Weekend of Shocks and Penalties

Five Moments From the Emirates Cup Last-16

The Emirates Cup knockout stage delivered five compelling moments over three days, as eight clubs progressed to the quarterfinals: Al Ain, Dibba Fujairah, Al Jazira, United, Shabab Al Ahli, Bani Yas, Al Wasl, and Al Wahda.

First shock: United, a side from the second tier, toppled Sharjah on penalties, 5-4, after a 1-1 draw.

Second shock: Bani Yas stunned hosts Al Nasr 2-0, despite sitting near the bottom of the ADNOC Pro League earlier this season.

Third shock: Dibba Fujairah defeated Al Wasl on penalties, 6-5, after the game finished 2-2.

Goalkeepers also shined, with four players earning the Man of the Match award in eight ties, underscoring the defensive battles of the round.

Ali Khaseef of Al Jazira, Isa Al Houti of Dibba, Hamad Al-Moqbali of Shabab Al Ahli, and Nouruddin Anayatallah of United stood out between the sticks.

Attackers delivered in spades, with 24 goals across eight matches. Al Ain’s 7-0 thrashing of Al Hamriya was the standout performance, while several clubs kept clean sheets alongside strong goal celebrations from 23 different scorers.

The round’s top scorer was Laba Kodjo of Al Ain, who netted twice after coming on as a substitute, while Abdulrahman Rakan of Ajman scored a famous own goal against Al Jazira.

Penalties also shaped the quarterfinal picture: Dibba Fujairah beat Al Wasl 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw; Shabab Al Ahli beat Bataeh 4-2 on penalties after a goalless extra time; and United edged Sharjah 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 finish after extra time.

Discipline was another talking point, with 41 cards shown in the eight matches (36 yellows and 5 reds). Seven games were officiated by local referees, while the clash between Al Ain and Al Hamriya was led by a Slovenian referee at the request of the home side, testing the balance between domestic and abroad officiating.

The Emirates Cup quarterfinal draw took place at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, and the fixtures will be played on neutral venues around January 31 and February 1-2, 2026: Shabab Al Ahli vs Khorfakan; Dibba Fujairah vs Al Ain; Bani Yas vs Al Jazira; United vs Al Wahda.

In summary, the last-16 weekend delivered shocks, high drama, and plenty of goals, setting up an enticing run to crown the Emirates Cup winner.

Sniper punchline 1: If football had a precision scope, these matches would come with a warranty — one save, one goal, and a lot of dramatic pauses.

Sniper punchline 2: My betting advice for the quarters? If your team’s defense is doing cardio, you’re in for a thriller; otherwise, bring a chair and a lucky charm.