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Danilo Pereira was the hero, grabbing two goals in injury time, as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Shabab 3-2 in a thrilling King’s Cup semi-final on Tuesday. They will face either Al-Qadsiah or Al-Raed, who play on Wednesday, in the final next month.

It was a thrilling tie. A penalty converted by Fabinho early in the first half seemed to put Al-Ittihad on course for a place in the final of Saudi Arabia’s premier domestic cup competition for the 19th time, and the chance to lift the trophy for the 10th time. But Al-Shabab had other ideas, scoring twice in the space of three minutes after the break to turn the tie on its head.

There was still time for a dramatic late twist, however, that means the prospect of the league and cup double remains very much alive for the Jeddah giants.

There were only 14 minutes on the clock when the Tigers took the lead. Al-Shabab defender Robert Renan brought down Abdulrahman Al-Oboud in the area, former Liverpool star Fabinho stepped up to take the spot kick and kept his cool to put his team ahead.

The only other highlight of the first half was another of the famous “tifo” visual displays from Al-Ittihad’s fans. It featured an image of star striker Karim Benzema wielding a hammer, inviting him to smash the opposition.

Things did not quite work out that way, however, as Al-Shabab fought back. In the 64th minute, Cristian Guanca picked up possession 30 yards from goal and unleashed a spectacular shot into the top corner. Three minutes later, Yannick Carrasco floated over a cross to the far post and Guanca struck again, this time heading home.

Al-Shabab seemed headed for a famous win and things were still looking good for them when the 90-minute mark ticked by.

But then, as the prospect of a fourth successive semi-final defeat loomed for Al-Ittihad, Pereira intervened. His first goal came in the 92nd minute. Benzema had a big part to play in it, greeting a corner kick with a header directed toward the top corner of the net. The attempt was saved but Pereira was well placed to head home the rebound.

Six minutes later and the comeback was complete. It began with another corner, which this time bounced off a defender in the crowded area but Pereira was there again, waiting to pounce and fire in the winner from close range, breaking Al-Shabab hearts and sending Al-Ittihad into the final for the first time in six years.

BIELEFELD, Germany: German Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-1 elimination at Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals of the competition on Tuesday.
Xabi Alonso’s side were heavily favored to reach their second successive final but were outclassed from start to finish by their underdog opponents.
Jonathan Tah’s 17th-minute goal was canceled out by a Marius Woerl strike for the hosts three minutes later.
Maximilian Grosser’s goal in first-half stoppage time would prove the difference for Bielefeld, who have now beaten four top-division opponents on their way to the final.
Bielefeld, who have never made a German Cup final, became just the fourth third-division team to reach the showpiece event.
Should Bielefeld win in Berlin in May — they will face either RB Leipzig or Stuttgart — the club will be rewarded with a Europa League spot next season.
Home coach Michel Kniat said: “We didn’t need luck at all because we were on the front foot the whole time.”
The coach said he “normally wouldn’t have a drink with the players, but tonight I’ll make an exception,” adding that “nobody will go to sleep in this city tonight.”
Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich said it was “by far our worst game of the season” and added that “Bielefeld deserved the win tonight, which means we did plenty of things wrong.”
Leverkusen coach Alonso came into the game having never lost in 10 matches in the competition and needed just one more victory to beat Louis van Gaal’s all-time record set as Bayern Munich manager.
Everything seemed to go according to plan when Leverkusen took the lead after 17 minutes, Tah tapping in unmarked at the far post.
The hosts hit back almost immediately however, Woerl taking advantage of a sloppy clearance attempt by Piero Hincapie to curl the ball home.
As the half wore on, Leverkusen were unable to make their possession count, with Bielefeld fast and threatening on the counter.
The hosts once again caught Leverkusen napping to take the lead moments before halftime, Grosser hammering in a Louis Oppie free kick from close range.
Bielefeld continued to out-energise their opponents, fighting in the duels and giving Leverkusen few chances to drag themselves back into the game.
Patrick Schick, so often Leverkusen’s late hero over the past two seasons, had a chance to level the scores while unmarked after 81 minutes but hit a header against the post.
This year’s German Cup is one of the more open in recent memory, with recent champions Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt all suffering early eliminations from the competition.
On Wednesday, RB Leipzig play away at Stuttgart in the other semifinal.
Leipzig, who have won two of the past three German Cups, will be managed by interim coach Zsolt Low, who took over after Marco Rose was sacked on Sunday.