Saudi Arabia Defeat Palestine to Reach to Semi Finals of FIFA Arab Cup 2025

Saudi Arabia booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025 with a dramatic 2–1 extra-time victory over Palestine in a gripping quarter-final clash at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

The Green Falcons were pushed to the limit by a determined Palestinian side, with the decisive moment arriving deep into extra time when Mohammed Kanno rose to head home the winner in the 115th minute, ensuring Saudi progression in the tournament. 

The contest began as a cagey affair, with both teams striving for control in the opening stages. Saudi Arabia gradually asserted dominance, probing Palestine’s disciplined defensive block without finding a breakthrough in the first half.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute when Feras Al-Buraikan calmly converted a penalty after Salem Al-Dawsari was fouled in the box, giving the Green Falcons the lead. 

Palestine responded with commendable resilience and purpose, immediately drawing level just six minutes later. Oday Dabbagh seized on a precise cross and finished clinically, keeping his nation’s historic Arab Cup campaign alive and reigniting hopes of a semi-final berth.

The intensity of the match grew, with both sides creating chances and VAR decisions adding late drama, including an overturned penalty for Saudi Arabia, which kept the score tied at 1–1 after 90 minutes. 

With the fixture locked and heading into extra time, fatigue set in, but neither team relented. The breakthrough came in the 115th minute when Kanno, a pivotal figure for Saudi Arabia, headed in the winner from an Al-Dawsari cross, sending the Saudi fans into raptures and securing a place in the last four. This late strike epitomised Saudi determination and quality under pressure. 

Despite the defeat, the Palestinian national team earned widespread admiration for their performance. Their path to the quarter-finals, including topping a challenging group and competing toe-to-toe with a regional powerhouse, represented one of the standout stories of the tournament, and they exited with pride and respect from fans across the Arab world. 

Saudi Arabia’s victory not only marks another step in their Arab Cup journey but also carries broader implications back home; the nation’s progression to the semi-finals triggered adjustments in the domestic league schedule, demonstrating the significance of their international success. 

As the Green Falcons prepare for their semi-final showdown against either Iraq or Jordan, fans will reflect on this quarter-final clash as one of the most exciting and hard-fought matches of the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, encapsulating the drama, passion, and unpredictability that make tournament football so compelling.