Al Rayyan beat Al Arabi 3-0 in Doha Derby

Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Al Rayyan secured Doha Derby bragging rights yesterday evening with a 3-0 win against bitter rivals Al Arabi.
Goals from Koh Myong-jin, Sebastian Soria and a Vivien Assie Koua own goal ensured it was a comfortable evening for Michael Laudrup’s side who looked the stronger side throughout the tie.
It was the home side Al Arabi who notched the first chance of the evening, and started quickly with the aim of unsettling the reigning QSL champions. With just a minute on the clock, Al Arabi midfielder Omar Al-Amadi finished off a quick passing move to hit a low drive from outside the penalty area which was comfortably saved by Rayyan keeper Omar Barry.
Rayyan enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, but it was Al Arabi who looked livelier on the break. Striker Imoh Ezekiel went on a mazy run into the Al Rayyan half however the Nigerian international was eventually stopped by Rayyan defender Mohammed Alaaeldin.
Koh Myong-jin broke the deadlock for Al Rayyan on the 20th minute, a mele in the Al Arabi penalty area saw the ball fall to South Korean international just outside of the penalty area. Koh promptly drilled the ball into the bottom left hand corner for the opener, much to the delight of the away fans.
Five minutes later the Lions doubled their lead captain Rodrigo Tabata was bundled down in the box, and the referee promptly pointed to the penalty spot. After some time waiting Sebastian Soria stepped up and thumped the ball past Rajab Hamza hitting the cross bar in the process.
Al Rayyan were in the ascendancy and could of easily had a third however Rodrigo Tabata’s curling free-kick flew just wide of the Al Arabi cross bar. Again, Al Arabi started the second half strongly and perhaps should of clawed back a goal in the opening minute of the second period. A deflected shot came off Al Rayyan defender Nathan and thumped off the cross bar.
Whilst the other end Spanish striker Sergio Garcia struck a fine shot which was well saved by Rajab Hamza. The resulting corner from Rodrigo Tabata curled into the Al Arabi penalty box and was eventually stabbed in off the foot of Arabi defender Vivien Assie Koua. The reigning QSL champions had a comprehensive three goal lead.
The match was going the way of the QSL champions and with 65 minutes on the clock young Qatari winger Abdurahman Al-Harazi saw his shot flash over the bar. Six minutes later Al-Harazi was a amongst the chances again. A slick passing move between Sergio Garcia and Rodrigo Tabata well to the winger, however his chipped effort inched just wide.
Arabi began to dominate possession as the tie went into the final twenty minutes, however The Dream Team lacked a cutting edge in the final third when it mattered. Time and time again Al Arabi were shut down by the resolute Al Rayyan defence.
Friday’s early QSL kick off saw Umm Salal easily beat league strugglers Al Wakrah 3-1 at the Qatar SC Stadium as The Blue Waves continue their drop down the table, now sitting bottom after Al Kharaitiyat registered an important win over fellow strugglers, Muaither SC.
Umm Salal’s new manager, Mahmoud Jaber, was hoping his debut would improve the The Orange Fortress’ recent form which has seen them lose their last two. Jaber’s debut didn’t start well though after Umm Salal found themselves trailing after just five minutes of play.
Wakrah’s Uruguayan striker, Pablo Olivera, received a lay off from his fellow South American teammate, Paraguayan Pablo Zeballos, who managed to head down a long cross into his path and set him up to hit a volley from 24 yards out.
Despite Olivera connecting well with the ball and putting it on target, Umm Salal’s goalkeeper Baba Malick should have done better and he was quick to hold his hands up to apologise to his teammates.  
With possession finely balanced and centred in midfield, Umm Salal managed to find a leveller on the 38th minute after on-loan Brazilian midfielder,
Alf Santos, played a lovely through ball to Abdulaziz Al Yahari who along with Yannick Sagbo was able to beat Al Wakrah’s attempted offside trap. F
inding themselves two on one with Al Wakrah’s goalkeeper,  Al Yahari squared it to Sagbo once the goalkeeper had committed, allowing the big number 13 to make it 1-1 in front of an open goal from just three yards out.
Umm Salal took the lead seconds after the  second half thanks to yet another assist from Al Yahari.  Just two passes after the  kick-off, Sagbo picked out Al Yahari who had evaded his marker and beaten the offside trap. Al Yahari ran towards goal and drew a defender before cutting it back across the six yard box to a well-placed Dheyab Al Annabi who slotted home to give The Orange Fortress a 2-1 lead.
Umm Salal all but sealed the three points when they made it 3-1 on the 63rd minute.
Al Yahari was again involved in the run of play, delivering a lovely ball to Sagbo down the right wing who was then able to run at Al Wakrah’s defense before cutting it back to the edge of the 18 yard box where Umm Salal’s number 11, Hilal Mohammed, was running in at pace.
Hilal smashed the ball on the outside of his left boot to leave the goalkeeper with very little chance and bag his first goal of the season as it went low into the left hand corner of the goal. Umm Salal maintain their mid-table position while Al Wakrah’s season goes from bad to worse.
Elsewhere, Al Kharaitiyat registered a vital three points in their quest to beat the drop defeating fellow strugglers Muaither 1-0.
The game ended with a flourish as Kharaitiyat defender Domingos headed the winner in stoppage time to hand Muaither their fifth defeat in a row.
The first half was a timid affair with both sides reluctant to commit to attacks as they look to preserve their position in the league.  Each side managed just one shot on target and mot much else to trouble either goalkeeper. The first forty-five minutes ended scoreless with both sides level pegging.
There was some late action in the game as Kharaitiyat scored in the last minute of the game securing all three points.
Thunders captain, Domingos headed in the ball from a corner and gave his side a crucial victory.
The thirty-one-year-old met the ball close to the near post and headed it in giving his side the lead in the last play of the game. With this goal, Ahmed Al Ajlani’s men register only their second win of the season.
The win gives Kharaitiyat the much-needed three points as they move from the very bottom of the table to replacing Muaither in twelfth place.