Action from the QSL Cup match between Qatar SC and Al Duhail at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday. Qatar SC won 5-2.
Fahad Khalfan yesterday struck a dream hat-trick as Qatar SC roared back in fine style to open their QSL Cup campaign with a 5-2 drubbing over Al Duhail.
Abdulhrahman Mohamed (19) opened the scoring for Al Duhail but Said Ali Muhannadi (27) managed to equalise for Qatar SC minutes later. Salman Zayed (45 +2) doubled the lead for Al Duhail seconds before the end of the first half.
However, Khalfan (71, 80 and 84) emerged as the hero for his team while Bruno Gallo (88, penalty) added the fifth for the winners at Al Gharafa Stadium.
Earlier Al Duhail’s Mohamed produced a slick finish to a cross from team-mate Jassim Ali who chipped in the ball from the right flank as Al Duhail went 1-0 up. Mohamed - unmarked inside Qatar SC box - tapped the ball before unleashing a powerful shot that sailed past three defenders and into the net in the 19th minute.
In the 27th minute, Qatar SC produced the equaliser when Muhannadi swiveled inside the A Duhail box following a high cross from the flank and drove into the net with a slick shot to the left of the goalkeeper.
Al Duhail’s Zayed chipped one into the net for Al Duhail when Qatar SC defender Mohammed Al Jabri failed to clear a balls heading towards his own goal. Hashmi quickly grabbed the lose ball and chipped over the head of Qatar SC goalkeeper in injury time.
In the second half, it was all Al Blushi as Qatar SC staged their comeback win.
Qatar SC’s Khalfan found the back of Al Duhail net in the 71st minute with a close-range finish and added another in the 80th minute following another free-flowing attacking move. Khalfan completed his dream hat-trick in the 84th minute by tapping the ball into the Al Duhail net with sublime ease.
Gallo converted an easy penalty kick to seal Qatar SC’s resounding 5-2 win despite trailing 2-1 at the end of first half as Al Duhail - coached by Madjid Bougherra for this clash - failed to capitalise on their feisty tactics in the first 45 minutes of the clash.
Meanwhile, football giants Al Sadd take on Al Markhiya in their opening Group B clash of the QSL Cup game at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium today. The match - which will be a repeat of the opening QNB Stars League game three weeks ago - will kick off at 5:45pm.
In other games, Al Rayyan will battle Al Ahli at Al Shamal ground in the north of the country.
The clash is expected to provide fireworks following Al Rayyan’s 5-2 drubbing at the hands of Al Duhail in QNB Stars League last week.
The Al Rayyan-Al Ahli game will begin at 7:55pm.
In the day’s third game, Umm Salal take on Al Arabi at Al Wakrah Stadium with kick-off time set for 7:55pm.
According to the tournament system, the QSL Cup will be held in a one-round tournament in each group, with the first and second teams to reach the semi-finals and semi-finalists to reach the final.
The QSL Cup has been relaunched for the new 2017/2018 domestic football season.
The tournament will see all 12 QSL sides taking part in the tournament and give the sides a new opportunity to lift a trophy over the course of the season.
