Doha: Al Ahli crushed Al Arabi 3-1 yesterday with captain Mashael Abdulla scoring his 100th career goal in a tense clash at Al Ahli Stadium.
Abdulla opened the scoring in the 8th minute of the round 23 clash.
Mouhssine Iajour scored the second in the 48th minute while Ndombe Mubele added the third in the 60th minute,
Al Arabi skipper Paulo Sergio fired a bullet from close range to reduce the deficit in the 90th minute. It was Al Ahli’s third win in their last four Qatar Stars League (QSL) matches. Al Ahli, placed 9th, go past Al Wakrah in the QSL points table.
For Gianranco Zola’s sixth-placed Al Arabi, it was their third loss in their last five QSL games.
Earlier, Al Sailiya left it late to draw 1-1 with relegation threatened Qatar SC yesterday. The Kings took the lead in the 18th minute after Emiliano Vecchio’s corner kick found an unmarked Fadhil Omer who headed the ball in to the goal. The young Qatari striker with only his second goal of the season put Sebastaio Lazaroni’s men in front.
QSC came close to a second goal in the thirty-ninth minute when Ali Awad’s thunderous shot from outside the box hit the crossbar.
Despite enjoying much of the possession in the first half Al Sailiya failed to convert their chances thanks to Qatar SC’s organised defense.
In the second half Sailiya kept up the pressure and were rewarded for their effort in the 80th minute.
Dragos Grigore, Sailiya’s Romanian defender, chested the ball into the goal when Sultan Al Kuwari headed the ball towards him from a corner.
The referee originally did not allow the goal because of suspicions of hand ball, but after deliberation with his assistant awarded the goal to Al Sailiya.
The result means that the Kings remain the QSL relegation zone with twenty-two points while Al Sailiya’s position also remains unchanged at seventh with thirty-two points.
Yannick Sagbo’s late strike on Friday lifted Umm Salal as the visitors managed a 1-0 win over Al Wakrah.
Sagbo scored the only goal of the match in the 86th minute at hosts Al Wakrah failed to pick up points from the round 23 match in QSL. It was fifth-placed Umm Salal’s first win after three matches.
In truth Wakrah were the better side particularly in the second half, and should of taken the lead. Substitute Waheed Tahiri had only the goalkeeper to beat but he failed to convert from close range. Umm Salal made Wakrah rue those missed chances when Sagbo produced a close-range header to score his team’s winning goal four minutes from time.
Al Wakrah should have perhaps had an equalizer in stoppage time. Midfielder Mohsine Moutaouali’s free kick looked certain to be hitting the back of the net but Umm Salal’s experienced goalkeeper Baba Malik pulled of a fine diving save to deny the Moroccan international.
The result leaves Wakrah in ninth place, whilst Umm Salal are in 5th place.
The Peninsula
