Action during the opening match of the 10th round of QNB Stars League between Al Shahania and Al Rayyan at the Al Duhail Stadium, yesterday.
Doha: Bottom-placed Al Shahania held title-contenders Al Rayyan in an entertaining 2-2 draw as the 10th week of the QNB Stars League (QSL) got off to a thrilling start at the Al Duhail Stadium yesterday.
Abdulaziz Hatem (54th minute) and Sebastian Soria (60th) were Al Rayyan’s scorers, while Saoud Farhan (ninth minute) and Ramin Rezaein (68th) scored for Al Shahania.
Al Rayyan thus dropped two crucial points as they were emerging as serious title contenders. The Lions moved on to 22 points and Al Shahania four.
Al Shahania’s jinx of being the only team not to have registered a win in this season’s QNB Stars League continued. They remained at the bottom of the table as the tournament takes a long break after this weekend’s action. Jose Murcia’s men have to lift their game by several notches in the second leg.
It was Al Rayyan’s fourth draw and their six-match winning run came to an end. However, they share the record of being unbeaten along with Al Duhail.
Al Rayyan had more of the ball and opportunities even as Al Shahania fought their way in. After Al Shahania went ahead early into the game when Farhan capitalised on confusion among the Al Rayyan defenders, Diego Aguirre’s wards created many chances, but could not succeed in scoring before the half-time break.
Brisk action followed in the second session and Al Rayyan were soon on level terms, with Hatem becoming the goal taker.
Al Rayyan were soon 2-1 up as Soria gave finishing touch to Mowafaq Awad’s cross from the right. Ali Ferydoon then set the stage for Al Shahania’s equaliser scored by Rezaein.
In the day’s other match, Al Sailiya posted a key 2-1 victory over Al Arabi at the Grand Hamad Stadium. Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored for Al Arabi (45) while Meshaal Al Shammari (57) and Moubarak Boussoufa (81) found the net for Al Sailiya.
