Olunga dishes two assists as Al Duhail advance to QSL Cup final

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga provided two assists on Friday evening to help his side - Al Duhail - overcome nine-man Al Wakra and book their place into the 2024-25 QSL Cup final.

The 30-year-old, making his third consecutive start after the international break, showcased his dual-threat as he once again proved decisive for a club where he is the all-time top-scorer, leading them on the way to a 3-1 victory in extra time.

Following a goalless first half, Olunga made his impact just two minutes after the break when he checked his defender on a quick break-away, before feeding an onrushing Benjamin Bourigeaud to smash in the game’s opener from just inside the box.

The goal felt deserved for the hosts, who had earlier seen two strikes - including an offside from Luis Alberto - ruled out by VAR in the first half.

Stubborn Al Wakra however found an equalizer three minutes to the hour-mark, when Ricardo Gomes squeezed his spot-kick past Bautista Burke.

The visitors were in stoppage time reduced to ten men after Abdelaziz Mitwali was shown a straight red, and that turned out to be a key event as Al Duhail took control of an extra 30 minutes with the game still tied in regulation.

The same combination that broke the deadlock struck the same connection once more in the 108th minute, with a central Olunga finding Bourigeaud free on the left to this time score from a tight angle.

Four minutes later, Alberto found substitute Ismail Ali Heider, who arrowed his shot past the keeper to all but confirm Al Duhail’s passage to their second cup final in three years.

Wakra’s Ahmed Fadel was shown a late red as their journey in the playoffs came to an end.

Olunga, who won the domestic title in 2022-23 season, will now have another chance to lift the cup on Friday 20 December, when his Al Duhail side takes on Al Arabi, winners of the other semifinal.