Olunga scores crucial penalty to help Al Duhail advance to Champions League quarter finals

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga will be playing in the quarterfinals of the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League after helping his side emerge 7-6 winners on post-match penalties against Al Rayyan after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.

In the Round of 16 encounter staged at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, both teams, who had played out to a barren draw in regulation time, needed the penalties to be separated after a late strike by Al Rayyan deep into extra time denied Olunga’s side an outright victory.

Before all the drama, Duhail had been left frustrated on two occasions as two of their goals, scored by Edmilson Junior and Ali Almoez, were ruled out for offside following VAR intervention, forcing the game into extra time.

Two minutes after resumption of the second half’s extra time period, Duhail finally got an official lead in the match after Mohammed Muntari’s headed goal stood.

With the game looking to end with the narrow margin in Duhail’s favour, Al Rayyan had other ideas as French World Cup winning midfielder Steven N’zonzi scored in the third minute of additional time with a powerful shot from inside the penalty area to give his side a lifeline as the game was forced to penalties.

Olunga, who had started the match, was among the seven penalty takers who scored for Duhail as Rayyan were eliminated from the competition following Mouafak Awad’s missed penalty.

“We deserved to qualify. The match was long in its time and reached penalties but our players did everything necessary. We scored two goals that the referee overruled, although I see them as valid goals, but I respect the decisions of the referee and the VAR referees. Eventually we achieved a deserved victory and succeeded in qualifying,” Argentinian legend Hernan Crespo, who is Duhail’s, head coach noted.

Duhail, who are currently enjoying a rich vein in form as they also top the Qatar Stars League, will now face the winners of the match between Al-Faisaly (Saudi Arabia) and Fooland (Iran) in the last eight.

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Olunga was the top scorer in the 2021 AFC Champions League with his nine goals proving to be no match despite his team having been knocked out in the Group Stages.