Qatar Stars League champions Al-Sadd survived a scare to defeat Al Markhiya 2-1 in the Qatar Amir Cup on February 15, 2026. The heavily favored home side was pushed all the way by a determined Al Markhiya team before securing their quarter-final berth. Al-Sadd took an early lead through their prolific striker, but Al Markhiya shocked the home crowd by equalizing against the run of play just before halftime. The second half saw Al-Sadd lay siege to the Al Markhiya goal, with the winner finally arriving in the 85th minute from a deflected shot. Al Markhiya's brave resistance was ultimately broken, allowing Al-Sadd to progress in their quest for a domestic double.