Doha: Qatar Stars League (QSL) leaders Al Rayyan maintained their perfect start to the season, defeating Al Arabi by 5-2 in a passionate derby encounter at the Grand Hamad Stadium here yesterday.
Captain Rodrigo Barbosa Tabata (22, 68 minute) and Mohammed Juma (46, 84) scored two goals apiece to script a resounding win while Sergio Garcia (69) added one against his name for Al Rayyan.
Mosaab Mohamoud Elhassan (55) and Paulo Sergio (72) scored one goal apiece for Al Arabi
For The Lions, who has taken the QSL by storm since gaining promotion from the Qatar Gas League, this was their sixth win in as many matches.
Coach Jorge Fossati’s side now have 18 points, followed by El Jaish and Al Sadd, both with 14 points in the 14-team league, played on a double leg basis.
Al Rayyan started the derby well and only took seven minutes before registering their first chance of the tie. A snap shot from Spanish Garcia good save from Arabi keeper Rajab Kassim. The Arabi keeper was set to have an eventful night.
Al Rayyan won a penalty in the 20th minute, Rajab Kassim misjudged a Sebastian Soria cross and bundled Tabata down in the area. The referee promptly pointed to the penalty spot. Rayyan’s talismanic captain stepped up and calmly slotted the penalty away giving his side a 1-0 lead.
Arabi quickly fought back into the tie, but failed to make their dominance count. On the 29th minute a well worked shot from Askan Djager was skewed wide much to the annoyance of the Arabi fans.
Al Arabi was caught on the sucker punch on the counter courtesy of left back Juma. His forward run and shot managed to creep past Rajab Kassim to give Al Rayyan a 2-0 lead at half-time. It was a well worked goal, and the Rayyan fans rightly celebrated their teams goal. The first half ended 2-0 Al Rayyan.
Arabi had to get back into the tie, and looked the stronger side at the start of the second half. Two chances of note in four minutes from Ashgan and Paulinho gave the Dream Team confidence and promptly scored on the 55th minute from winger Elhassan.
Elhassan made no mistake from close range, putting the tie in the balance, giving the Dream Team a chance in the tie. Yet the match was about to swing into Rayyan’s favor in a few moments of madness.
In the 61st minute Rayyan won a penalty in controversial circumstances. Soria was knocked down in a collision with the goal keeper Rajab Kassim. The referee promptly pointed to the spot and sent off the keeper much to the bemusement of the Arabi fans present.
Arabi subsitute keeper Ali Jaaferi joined the action and his first action was to pick the ball out of the net. Tabata stepped up to score from the spot again, to give Al Rayyan a 3-1 lead.
Al Rayyan where rampant and quickly made their extra man count with striker Garcia making no mistakes from close range. Al Rayyan where 4-1 up, and put the game and in the mood to score goals.
Despite having ten men Arabi continued to battle and in the 72nd minute Paulinho slotted in from close range to give Arabi a lifeline in the match. Zola’s men looked the better side despite having one man less.
In the 80th minute Paulinho brought out a good save from Rayyan stopper Omar Barry. Paulinho was the vocal point for his side and on the 82nd minute his mazy run was blazed over the bar. Two minutes later Rayyan took Arabi on the break to win the match. Juma scored his second of the match and his side’s fifth goal all but guaranteeing the points and ensuring Fossati’s men remained unbeaten and top of the QSL league.
On Friday, Al Ahli and Umm Salal collected full points while Al Sadd were held to a goalless draw in their respective Round 6 matches. In the most exciting match of Friday, Al Ahli scored three goals in the second half to sink the Qatar Sports Club 3-0.
Meanwhile, Umm Salal edged out Al Sailiya 2-1, while Al Sadd were held to 0-0 draw by Al Khor.
The Peninsula
