Sofiane Bouchar celebrates with teammates after scoring the decisive goal.

MUSCAT, March 13: Al-Arabi clinched its place in the semi-finals of the AFC Challenge League after overcoming Omani club Al-Seeb in a dramatic quarter-final clash at Seeb Sports Stadium in Muscat.

Having won the first leg 1-0, Al-Arabi faced a strong challenge in the return fixture, as Al-Seeb secured a 2-1 victory, forcing the match into extra time. Moroccan professional Sofiane Bouchar emerged as the hero, netting the decisive goal in the 102nd minute to send Al-Arabi through to the next round.

The match saw Al-Arabi take the lead early through Hussein Ashkanani in the 23rd minute, but Al-Seeb responded with an equalizer from Abdulrahman Al-Mushafri in the 41st minute. Camara then put Al-Seeb ahead in the 87th minute, setting the stage for a tense finish before Bouchar's crucial extra-time strike.

Al-Arabi will now face Turkmenistan’s Arkadag in the semi-finals on April 9 and 16. The two sides previously met in the preliminary round of the tournament last year, with Al-Arabi securing a 3-2 victory.

Al-Arabi Club President Abdulaziz Ashour praised the team’s determination and efforts in securing qualification, expressing confidence in its ability to maintain this momentum in the upcoming rounds.

As a token of appreciation, Ashour awarded each player 1,000 dinars following the hard-fought victory.

Meanwhile, Al-Arabi’s Youssef Majed is undergoing treatment at Turkish club Galatasaray’s medical clinic for a shoulder injury sustained late last year. He is expected to return to training in early April.

By Hassan Mosa

Al-Syeassah/Arab Times Staff