DOHA: Al Ahli yesterday delivered a commanding performance by crushing former champions Al Gharafa 3-1.
Mohammed Muntari (1), Abdelrehman Mustafa (58) and Nigel De Jong (83) scored the goals for Al Ahli who looked the better side throughout the match.
For Al Gharafa - who were hammered 8-1 by Al Sadd last week - the goal was scored by Abdul Fateh Seraj (37) in the first half at Jassim Bin Thani Stadium.
In just the first minute of the Round 14 clash, following a loopy Mohsine Moutaouali cross that landed at his feet, Muntari outpaced his marker and shot the ball into the net for Al Ahli’s first goal.
The early strike brought a huge smile to coach Milan Macala as Qatar national team coach Felix Sanchez watched from the stands at Al Gharafa Stadium.
In the 14th minute, goal-scorer Muntari found team mate Abdelrehman Mustafa with a bicycle cross. Mustafa charged ahead with the ball but misfired with his left-footed shot that sailed above the Al Gharafa box with only keeper Yusuf Ali to beat from close range.
Five minutes later, Muntari jumped high in the air on long cross from the flank but his deflection from inside the Al Gharafa box sailed above the crossbar without causing any damage.
At the half-hour make, Qatar U-23 player Seraj headed a deflection from inside the Al Ahli box on a long cross but the ball sailed above the crossbar in what Al Gharafa’s first serious attempt at goal. A minute later, Saeed Eesa of Al Gharafa was booked for nearly taking out Al Ahli’s Meshal Abdullah with a rough tackle.
In the 37th minute, Seraj made the most of a fumble by keeper Ivan Santos. Stationed just a few feet away from Santos, who failed to pouch a low cross from the flank, Seraj quickly sent the ball into the net with a low right-foot drive. It was Seraj’s third goal of the season.
Just two minutes before the end of the first half, Al Ahli’s Mohammad Reza was booked with a yellow for a reckless tackle in his own box. A few seconds later, Dutch star Wesley Sneijder found Alaeldin with a slick short cross on the edge of the Al Ahli box. Alaedlin charged ahead before unleashing a powerful left-footed drive that was palmed away by Al Ahli keeper Santos.
Mustafa, in the 58th minute, helped Al Ahli take the lead with a left-footed drive from inside the Al Gharafa box with only keeper Ali to beat. It was Mustafa’s third goal of the season.
In the 62nd minute, Al Ahli’s Omaid Ebrahimi was booked with a yellow card by referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim who also booked the visiting skipper Abdullah a minute later.
In the 73rd minute, Al Gharafa’s Abdulaziz Hatem was shown the yellow for a rough tackle.
In the 83rd minute, De Jong scored a spectacular long-range goal that completed an impressive outing for Al Ahli.
