Doha: Al Wakrah put in a gritty performance to register a come from behind 2-1 victory over Al Gharafa at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium.
Mohsine Moutaouali’s brace, which included a 95th minute penalty, gave the home side their second victory in this Qatar Stars League (QSL) season.
The first half saw both teams engineering moves but a lack of finishing ensured that both sides finished goalless. Gharafa’s Anderson Martins fired in a shot in the 25th minute but Wakrah keeper Mohamed Enyas was able to tip it over the bar.
Just four minutes later Enyas was injured when he landed awkwardly after collecting the ball and had to eventually substituted in the 36th minute by Hassan Deecko.In the very next minute there was a goalmouth melee and Gharafa’s Almahdi Mukhtar hit the bar from less than six yards.
The first half ended with chances at both ends. Gharafa’s Alain Dioko had his shot blocked by Deecko and Moutaouali’s effort was saved but Burhan. The possession at the end of the first half was almost equal with Gharafa shading it by 54 per cent.
The second half too continued on equal footing and the deadlock was broken in the 59th minute with a great goal by Gharafa defender Lawrence Quaye. Yasin Chikhaoui ran into the box and then backheeled into the path of Quaye who curled it into the far corner of the goal.
Despite conceding a goal, Wakrah remained in the tie, constantly threatening the Gharafa defence. In the 74th minute got back into the game thanks to Mouchine Moutaouali who fired in a free kick. This, on first glance seemed like an intended as a cross, which amazingly ended up in the back of the net. The Moroccan shrugged his shoulders indicating that he didn’t expect that to go in. On the other hand, Gharafa keeper Burhan should of done better, as the ball easily floated over his head.
Gharafa pushed for a winner in the final quarter of the match. The Cheetahs created a host of chances but their final finishing let them down. Then disaster struck for Gharafa, in injury time defender Almahdi Ali Mukhtar brought down Moutaouali with a mistimed tackle inside the box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
The Moroccan stepped up to take the penalty and scored past Burhan who got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.
Meanwhile, Mesaimeer scored their first ever win in Qatar Stars League by defeating Al Kharaitiyat at the Grand Hamad Stadium 2-1. The first half started with Al Kharaityat taking the lead at the 12th minute by Yahya Kebe with an assist from Abdel Aziz Al Ansari. After which Mesaimeer had the upper hand in the tie.
The pressure eventually tolled on Al Kharaitiyat, and Meisameer grabbed their first goal in the QSL thanks to Brazilian Ervelito Silva, who scored in the 37th minute with an assist from his teammate Jose Pinto, the first half ended 1-1.
The second half commenced with the same rhythm with each team following the same tactics until the 61st minute when Mesaimeer took a deserved lead courtesy of a second goal from Ervelito Silva. Meisameer held on to the lead to register a memorable first victory in the QSL.
The Peninsula
