Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a dramatic late winner to send Al-Qadsiah into their first-ever King’s Cup final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Al-Raed on Wednesday at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam.
The match seemed destined for extra time after both teams struggled to break the deadlock, but Aubameyang struck in the second minute of stoppage time. The former Arsenal and Barcelona forward latched onto a long ball, drove into the penalty area, and coolly slotted past Al-Raed’s goalkeeper to seal a historic win.
Al-Qadsiah dominated possession and created several chances but lacked the finishing touch until Aubameyang’s decisive intervention. The victory sets up a final clash with Al-Ittihad, who edged Al-Shabab 3-2 in the other semifinal on Tuesday. The title decider will take place on May 9.
While Al-Qadsiah has previously won the Saudi Crown Prince’s Cup (1993), the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup (1993), and the Saudi Federation Cup (1994), they have never lifted the prestigious King’s Cup. Now, under Aubameyang’s leadership, they stand one win away from making history.
The Gabonese star’s impact continues to grow since joining the Saudi First Division side, proving crucial in their quest for silverware and top-flight promotion. Fans will hope his heroics can inspire one more triumph in the final.
Aubameyang Fires Al-Qadsiah into Historic King’s Cup Final
