Lucca Borges of Al Rayyan celebrates after scoring a goal against Umm Salal during the QNB Stars League match yesterday.
Al Ahli extended their unbeaten run to six matches as they beat Qatar SC 1-0 while Al Rayyan shared points with Umm Salal in thrilling matches of Week 13 of the QNB Stars League yesterday.
At Gharafa Stadium, Al Rayyan snatched a late equaliser to earn a valuable point as they drew 1-1 with Umm Salal.
The goals were scored by Mahmous Al Mawas for Umm Salal in the 66th minute before Luca Borges equalised for Al Rayyan in the 79th minute.
In a game of few chances, Al Rayyan thought they had taken an early lead as Mohammed Juma saw his shot from a tight angle miraculously cleared off the line by Adil Rhaili. They really should have scored later on in the half, but were denied in surprising circumstances. Rodrigo Tabata had hit a beautiful free-kick over the wall and against the post, but somehow Daniel Goumou dragged the follow-up shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
The first goal of the game came midway through the second half and largely summed up what had been a tight game.
Umm Salal’s Mohammad El Sayed put in a cross which was flicked on to the post by Rhaili and Al Mawas was on hand to scramble the ball across the line.
While it appeared that goal would be enough, Al Rayyan had other ideas when Ahmad Al Sayyid’s shot was parried for a corner.
Tabata floated in a corner from the left which found its way through the defence and Luca was able to put the ball into the back of the net to ensure the points were shared.
In the Al Ahli-Qatar SC clash, Nigel de Jong converted from the spot to net the all-important goal in the 60th minute at the Qatar SC Stadium.
The penalty was awarded when Qatar SC’s Sandro Ferreira tripped Mohammed Muntari inside the box.
Al Ahli took their points to 22 with their seventh victory.
The Brigadiers had held Al Rayyan to a 1-1 draw in the last round. Prior to that, they had registered four victories on the trot.
Qatar SC remained on 11 points.
Meshaal Abdulla and Muntari led Al Ahli’s attacks, while Dutch star De Jong played the captain’s role well even as he controlled the midfield.
Qatar SC made Samuel Eto’o their spearhead, with Syrian striker Osama Omari playing slightly behind him.
Al Ahli had a goal disallowed in the eighth minute when Omid Ibrahimi, who headed in a Mohsine Moutaouli free-kick from the left, was ruled offside.
Eto’o then missed an easy chance as he failed to tap in the ball after being put through and even as Al Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues had charged out.
Al Ahli created more chances and, towards the end of first half, Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail denied Muntari and Meshaal.
Qatar SC showed more alacrity in the second half, but a goal eluded them. Soon after Al Ahli scored, The Kings had a chance to equalise. However, Omari sent his free-kick from outside the ‘D’ over the bar.
