Doha: Qatar Sports Club held champions Al Rayyan to a goal-less draw and became the first side to hold Rayyan to a stalemate this Qatar Stars League season.
By doing so, they picked up what could prove to be a vital point in their fight to stave off relegation.
The Kings are now just a single point from safety after becoming the first side to hold Rayyan to a draw this season.
It’s also the first time that Rayyan have failed to score in a match this campaign. The result is a huge turnaround for Sebastiao Lazaroni’s men. In the reverse fixture in November, Rayyan hammered QSC 9-0 – a result which included a four-goal haul for Rodrigo Tabata. But it was a different story on Friday night as QSC continued their survival battle. Boosted by Al Kharaitiyat’s defeat to Al Sadd, QSC went into the game knowing a win would drag them out of the bottom two. It proved to be a war of attrition at Seham Bin Hamad Stadium.
QSC were regularly forced to repel flowing Rayyan attacks but restricted the title winners – who went into the game with 20 wins from 21 matches – thanks to a strong showing from goalkeeper Mohammed Mubarak.
He saved brilliantly from Victor Caceres in the second half before being helpless to prevent Tabata’s ferocious shot from smashing off the crossbar. The Lions, who confirmed the title with a 5-0 thumping of Al Wakrah last weekend, continued pushing for a winner and almost got it when Sebastian Soria headed over in added time.
Al Arabi boosted their top four hopes with a deserved 2-0 victory over El Jaish. Ashkan Dejagah, Paulinho and Alan Sousa all produced inspired performances for the dream team as Jaish were defeated for only the fifth time this season. Gianfranco Zola’s men dominated the early stages at Lekhwiya Stadium and deservedly took a two-goal lead inside 18 minutes.
Lekhwiya’s Congolese striker Alain Dioko pulled off a stunning effort and Youssef Msakni assured a happy ending as their team outplayed Al Khor 2-0 in a Qatar Stars League game played at Al Khor yesterday.
At Qatar Sports Club Grounds, Al Sadd managed to score in the 80th minute through substitute player Baghdad Bounedjah for a 1-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat.
The Peninsula
