Surprise Semifinalists: Al Ain and Al Nasr Ride Quarterfinal Drama to UAE Cup Last Four

Semifinal pairings and the quarterfinal drama

Al Ain and Al Nasr progressed to the UAE Cup semifinals after overcoming Shabab Al-Ahli and Al Sharjah in the quarterfinals on aggregate totals. The two teams now know their first semifinal opponents: Al Ain will meet Al Sharjah, while the other two semifinals will be decided on Sunday when Al Wasl host Al Jazira and Khor Fakkan welcome Al Wahda at home. The quarterfinals also featured first-leg results that set the stage for dramatic returns, including a 0-0 draw between Wasl and Jazira and a 2-2 stalemate between Khor Fakkan and Al Wahda.

In the clash between Al Nasr and Shabab Al-Ahli, the return leg produced a 3-2 win for Nasr, sending the tie to penalties after both sides finished 4-4 on aggregate. Mehdi Qaidi struck twice for Nasr in the second leg (13th and 45th minutes), with Abdullah Tori adding a third in the 61st, while Matheus Lima and Yuri Cesar scored for Shabab Al-Ahli in the 25th and 82nd minutes respectively. Nasr’s goalkeeper Ahmed Shammie saved a crucial spot-kick to push Nasr through.

Meanwhile, Al Ain faced a tougher obstacle in the quarterfinal against Al Sharjah. The first leg had left the door ajar, but the return leg at home swung decisively in favor of the league leaders. Petrovic of Sharjah put through a regrettable own goal in the 17th minute to give Al Ain the lead, and Labashev? Labaji Kodjo (Laba Kodjo) doubled the advantage in the 21st. Manai pulled one back for Sharjah in the 30th, but Sufian Rahimi extended Al Ain’s lead with a long-range strike in the 51st, and Palacios (Palacios) sealed the fourth in the 61st. The aggregate score finished at 7-2 for Al Ain, who looked every bit the favorite as they cruised into the semis.

The action also hinted at the broader picture for the competition, with Wasl vs Jazira ending 0-0 on the night and Khor Fakkan vs Al Wahda producing a 2-2 draw in the first leg, leaving both ties wide open for the return fixtures. Al Ain’s comfortable 4-1 second-leg win over Sharjah and Nasr’s exertions late in the week underline the unpredictable, roller-coaster nature of cup football—a stage where one moment can flip a tie and a goalkeeper can become the hero of the hour.

Key scorers and moments

Mehdi Qaidi’s double for Al Nasr in the second leg, combined with Abdullah Tori’s late strike, carried the team to a crucial win from which Nasr advanced on penalties after extra-time and a 4-4 aggregate. For Shabab Al-Ahli, Lima and Cesar struck late in the second leg, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit. Al Ain found their rhythm early in the Sharjah tie, with Rahimi testing the goalkeeper in the 9th minute before Petrovic’s own goal opened the floodgates; Kodjo and Rahimi added goals, and Palacios finished off the visitors late on to push the scoreline higher. The result left Al Ain on course for a deep run in the competition, while Nasr reminded everyone that cup football can still bend to the drama of a shootout.

Looking ahead

The two matchups already set up promise a mouth-watering set of semifinals. Al Ain’s home strength will be tested by a Sharjah side that has shown resilience, and Nasr’s road through the quarterfinals suggests they won’t go quietly in the pursuit of another cup final appearance. Sunday’s conclusions will determine the other two semifinalists and set the stage for a festive, and perhaps frantic, finish to the UAE Cup season.

Punchline time: If the cup had GPS coordinates, it would say “recalculate”—because every time these teams reach the semis, the route gets hilariously longer. And if football ever needed a signature move, it would be a goalkeeper sprinting to the penalty spot like a kid chasing the last slice of pizza. Bam, there go the memes.