Al Arabi’s Qatari striker Fahad Al Balooshi (left) celebrates after scoring his second goal against Umm Salal during the QNB Stars League match played at the Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday.
Doha: Qatari striker Fahad Al Balooshi scored twice (27, 36) before Mohammed Salah El Neel netted a third (53) as Al Arabi stormed to a 3-0 win over Umm Salal in their QNB Stars League (QSL) match yesterday.
At the Al Gharafa Stadium, the deadlock was broken midway through the first half with a quick counter-attack that caught Umm Salal off guard. Some slick play between Franco Hurtado and El Neel resulted in a perfectly-weighted through ball for the onrushing Al Balooshi to smash home from the edge of the penalty area.
Ten minutes later, they increased their advantage when Diego Jardel whipped in a corner from the left and Al Balooshi outjumped his marker at the near post to power home.
The game was effectively over not long after the second half started when following a double whammy of defensive errors.
Jawad Ahnash saw his poorly-executed back pass being intercepted by El Neel, who rounded the goalkeeper to send the ball into an empty net and seal all three points for Al Arabi.
Earlier, at the Al Khor Stadium yesterday, a brilliant brace by Moroccan star Rachid Tiberkanine helped Al Sailiya clinch an entertaining 2-1 away win against the hosts.
Tiberkanine scored in the 14th and 48th minutes before Al Khor grabbed a consolation penalty goal through Wagner Ferreira in the 79th.
With a rapid start to the game from both sides, it was inevitable that an early goal was on the cards and Al Sailiya made the perfect start, thanks to talisman Tiberkanine.
He responded well to a looped cross from the left of the area and nipped in between two defenders to tuck a header inside the near post.
Abdulqadir Ilyas nearly added another just before the break, but his athletic volley struck the post.
Within minutes of restart, Tiberkanine was quick to double Al Sailiya’s lead, thanks to his natural predatory instinct. With the ball falling inside the box after a scramble, he reacted quickest to poke it home with his right boot from eight yards. Al Khor grew into the game immediately and had multiple chances denied by some last-gasp heroics from opposition goalkeeper Saoud Al Khater.
Following some heavy pressing, Al Khor were provided with a lifeline after a penalty was awarded when Mostafa Hamid wrestled Diogo to the ground. Wagner stepped up to drive his penalty hard into the top right-hand corner.
While applying further pressure Al Khor’s hopes were in vain, with Al Sailiya holding on to win all three points.
