Doha: In a dominating show of attacking football, Umm Salal yesterday beat El Jaish to pick up three valuable points in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) title race.
Despite leading the match 3-0 at one time, Umm Salal managed to hold on to their defence and closed the match 3-2 at Al Gharafa Stadium.
Welinton Souza Silva (8), Yannick Anister Latte (15) and Jermie Ali Adiere (63) scored for the winners.
El Jaish, placed second on the QSL points table, hit back through Sardor Rashidov (74). Romario Ricardo Silva (77) scored El Jaish’s second goal of the high-scoring clash.
It was El Jaish’s second successive loss following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Qatar SC last week.
Al Rayyan continue to lead the points table with 33 points from 11 matches going into the Round 12 calsh with Al Sadd today.
El Jaish and Al Arabi, both have 23 points from 12 matches.
Umm Salal are in the sixth spot with 21 points from 12 matches.
Elsewhere, Al Arabi yesterday produced a dominant performance to defeat Mesaimeer 4-1 at Lekhwiya Stadium.
This win also saw Al Arabi jump to third in the QSL standings.
The Dream Team had complete control over the match, ending up with 66 per cent possession and having had 22 shots on goal with a whopping 15 of them on target. But despite enjoying a similar share of possession in the first half, all the goals came in the second half.
It started with Yusef Ahmed Ali putting the ball in the back of the net, only to be flagged offside. But two minutes later Sergio Paulo scored the first goal for this team, finally breaking down the gritty Mesaimeer defence.
Mosaab Elhassan provided the cross and the Brazilian made no mistake this time.
The second goal came off a penalty with Abdullrahman Said adjudged to have brought down Yusef Ahmed. Al Arabi skipper Boualem Khoukhi scored from the spot in the 66th minute.
This goal seemed to awaken Mesaimeer and they started making regular forays into the Al Arabi half.
Erivelto Silva had a chance in the 76th minute when he found himself one on one with the Al Arabi ‘keeper Rajab Kassim but the Brazilian’s shot was straight at the ‘keeper.
Mesaimeer enjoyed a brief period of ball possession but Arabi wrestled back control with a Sergio Dutra Junior goal in the 80th minute. Al Arabi got their icing on the cake when Seyed Mohammad scored in the 91st minute to wrap up a commanding performance by Gianfranco Zola’s boys. Mesaimeer have just four points from 12 matches.
The Peninsula
