Doha: Al Arabi defeated Al Khor 4-3 on penalties to make the last eight of Amir Cup while Al Markhiya completed the quarterfinal line-up after stunning Al Gharafa 1-0.

In the first match at Al Gharafa Stadium, Arabi and Al Khor were locked at 2-2 at the end of the regulation period.

At one point, Al Khor seemed to be cruising towards the quarterfinals after taking a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Tiago Bezerra (14th minute) and Nayef Al Beraiki (46th).

After a lacklustre first half, Halgrimmsson introduced Hamdi Harbaoui and goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada and that proved to be a masterstroke. Al Khor had taken the lead in the 14th minute after they were awarded a penalty, which was duly converted by Thiago. They doubled the lead at the stroke of half time when Nayef al-Buraiki headed in after a corner.

Arabi mounted their comeback strongly and had a couple of chances but could not convert. They finally scored in the 74th minute when Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored through a penalty.

A minute later Harbaoui made it 2-2 after taking advantage of a defensive slip from Al Khor and take the match to penalties. In the shootout, Abunada was the hero as his two crucial saves sealed Arabi’s place in the quarter-finals.

In the second match, Aden Ali scored the only goal in the 63rd minute to seal the victory for Markhiya.

Al Sailiya, Al Rayyan, Al Sadd, Al Duhail, Al Wakrah and Al Ahli had already booked their last-eight berth.