Doha: Qatar Stars League (QSL) leaders Al Rayyan and Al Khor registered contrasting wins in the Round 17 matches yesterday.
Al Rayyan struck late goals to collect full points against Mesaimeer while Al Khor held on to the 26th minute goal against Al Wakrah.
At Grand Hamad Stadium, captain Rodrigo Tabata’s stunning free-kick and a late header from Fahad Khalfan gave Al Rayyan all three points against Mesaimeer.
Tabata produced a perfect right-footed effort from just outside the box in the 89th minute, before Khalfan nodded in Sebastian Soria’s cross in added time to secure the Lions’ 16th win of a memorable campaign.
It was a deserved victory for Rayyan after a largely frustrating night against the league’s bottom side.
They stuck to their task however, and now boast a 13-point lead at the top as they target a first Falcon Shield since 1995. Jorge Fossati’s men had three goals disallowed and also had to contend with an inspired performance from Mesaimeer goalkeeper Basel Zaidan.
Time and again the on-loan El Jaish stopper prevented Rayyan from taking the lead. He produced a good double save in the 12th minute to deny Soria’s close-range shot and, moments later, a 30-yard effort from Tabata.
His best save came late on though when he tipped Babou Barro’s cross-cum-shot over the bar in the 86th minute.
In the end, Rayyan’s persistence paid off as they claimed a fifth win in a row. Tabata’s brilliant free-kick clipped the bar on its way past Zaidan, who could do nothing to stop an effort.
Khalfan’s goal in the dying embers of the game simply confirmed the result and sent the travelling fans into raptures.
There are nine games to go in the QSL season but Rayyan look nailed on to claim the title, and with it a stunning return to the top division.
At Wakrah Stadium, Julio Cesar’s bicycle kick gave Al Khor a 1-0 win over Al Wakrah to move up to eighth position in the QSL standings.
The Knights followed up last week’s 1-0 win over El Jaish with another strong performance to leapfrog Wakrah in the table and make it five games unbeaten.
Brazilian striker Cesar scored the only goal at Saoud Bin Abdel Rahman Stadium. Madsen’s 26th minute free-kick from distance ricocheted off the post and, with goalkeeper Hassan Dicko stranded, Cesar produced a brilliant acrobatic finish from six yards out.
The Blue Waves pushed forward in the second half in search of an equaliser but they failed to penetrate Khor’s steadfast defence, which was well marshaled by veteran Qatari defender Waleed Mohyaden.
The result is the perfect tonic for Khor, who will go into next week’s match with runaway leaders Al Rayyan full of confidence.
The Peninsula
