Action during the match between Umm Salal and Al Wakrah yesterday. Pic: Hussein Sayed
Doha: Al Arabi yesterday recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Al Khor to close the gap on second-placed Al Duhail to three points in the QNB Stars League.
But yesterday’s biggest talking point was Umm Salal’s first win of the season against Wakrah 4-1, which dealt a blow on latter top four hopes.
Playing at home, Al Arabi consolidated third position with 22 points, three behind Al Duhail and six behind leaders Al Sadd.
The game’s first goal was scored by Abdulqadir Ilyas in the 20th minute with Rami Suhail adding another one in injury time (90+4).
It was Al Arabi’s sixth win of the season, whereas Al Khor, who played with 10 men after the expulsion of Korean midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol in the 60th minute, are still without a win.
Al Arabi opened the scoring when Spanish centre back Marc Martinez – from near the corner flag – slipped in a cross for Ilyas, who was inside the Al Khor box. And he smartly deflected the ball into the net past the goalkeeper.
In stoppage time, substitute Rami ran for more than 40 yards before sneaking into the Al Khor box and drilled a low shot to the right of the keeper for his side’s second goal.
Later, Umm Salal stunned Al Wakrah at the Al Arabi Stadium.
Ayman Ghadban (first and 45th minutes) and Yassin Bakhit (64th and 80th minutes) powered Umm Salal to their first win of the season and they are at sixth position with nine points. Nasser Saleh Al Yazidi scored Al Wakrah’s goal in the 54th minute.
Wakrah, who went into the match in fourth position slid a place, with Gharafa going up thanks to better goal difference.
The teams barely settled into their groove when Umm Salal found the net in the opening minute. Ghadban picked up a ball near the half line and ran all the way towards the Al Wakrah box.
As he got close to the goalmouth, Al Wakrah keeper Saoud al-Khater stepped out of his position, but Gadban quickly slipped the ball into the left corner. As the first half drew to a close, Umm Salal doubled their lead. Bakhit, following a long run with ball, gave a cross to Ghadban, who easily deflected a shot into the goal from close range.
In the 64th minute, Bakhit exhibited remarkable control and speed as he charged into the Al Wakrah box following a loopy cross. Despite being chased by Al Wakrah’s tall defender Ousmane Coulibaly, Bakhit drilled a shot into the net for his side’s third goal.
Bakhit added one more goal through a left-footed drive that went to the left of Al Wakrah keeper as Umm Salal wrapped up a convincing win.
Meanwhile, goals from Javi Martinez (eighth minute) and Bashar Resan (49th minute) gave Qatar SC 2-1 win over Al Sailiya. Substitute Ramin Rezaeian pulled one back for Al Sailiya in the 80th minute.
Qatar SC moved on to nine points with their second victory. Al Sailiya remained on five points.
