Doha: Rodrigo Tabata hogged the limelight with a double strike as last year’s

runners-up Al Rayyan stormed into the Emir’s Cup final with a 3-0 win over

Al Gharafa here on Saturday evening.

Both the teams had a bye into the quarterfinals stage of the competition as the

QNB Stars League’s third and fourth-placed sides.

Tabata gave his side the lead early in the second minute after he was put through

by former Qatar international Sebastian Soria. The Rayyan captain slotted the ball

home in a flash to give his side a confident start.

A lot will depend on Tabata when his side face Al Duhail in the final as Rayyan, who

last won the title in 2013, will hope to receive the coveted trophy from the Emir at

the Khalifa International Stadium on May 19.

South Korean international Koh Myong-Jin capitalised on a long ball to beat keeper

Qasem Burhan, who came out of his charge, with an effortless lob three minutes after

half-time.

The Tabata-Soria combination proved lethal once again in their third goal in the

88th minute.

Soria exchanged a swift one-two with Tabata on top of the box before releasing with to

fire home past Qasim, who had a difficult time at the goal.