Al Rayyan's Roger Guedes (left) celebrates with teammates.
Doha, Qatar: Al Gharafa survived a late comeback from Umm Salal to secure a 3-2 victory at Al Khor Stadium yesterday, extending their lead in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
Pedro Martins’ side looked in complete control after a first-half brace from Jamal Hamed and a second-half strike by Florinel Coman. However, Umm Salal mounted a late fightback, scoring twice within three minutes through Antonio Mance and Cristo Gonzalez deep into regulation time.
The closing stages were tense, but Al Gharafa held on to preserve their narrow lead against the Orange Fortress and move to 28 points, five clear of Al Rayyan. The Lions moved to second with a 3-1 victory over Al Sailiya in yesterday’s second match. Al Shamal, on 21 points, can reclaim second place when they face Al Ahli today.
Hamed opened the scoring in the fifth minute, capitalising on poor defending to fire a low shot from just outside the box. He then doubled the Cheetahs’ advantage in the fifth minute of first-half added time, heading home an Amro Surag cross that took a deflection off a defender.
Al Gharafa's Jamal Hamed celebrates after scoring a goal.
Coman, who replaced Hamed in the 70th minute, needed just nine minutes to make his mark. He latched onto a clever short pass from Yacine Brahimi inside the box, skipped past two defenders, and finished from the centre of the area to make it 3-0.
Umm Salal, though, were not done. Mance reduced the deficit in the 86th minute, heading in Abdulrahman Fayez’s precise diagonal cross from the edge of the six-yard box. Gonzalez reignited their hopes with a clinical strike from outside the box in the 89th minute, but time ran out as Al Gharafa held firm to claim all three points.
“These points are very important for us, and starting the year with a win is equally important, especially after our defeat against Al Shahania,” said Spain-born Hamed, who was named Player of the Match for his brace.
“Umm Salal came back with two quick goals, but we kept fighting. This is Al Gharafa, and we will keep pushing to achieve our goal of winning the league. I’m grateful to my teammates for helping me score my goals.”
Later at Grand Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan delivered a fine performance to start the second half of the season with a win. Roger Guedes fired a brace, scoring in either half after David Garcia opened the scoring for Al Rayyan. Khalid Ali was the scorer for Al Sailiya.
Al Rayyan took an aggressive approach from the word-go and initially took the lead in the 23rd minute when Garcia struck from a corner kick. The goal was confirmed by VAR after it was initially ruled out for offside.
Guedes doubled the lead in the first minute of added time in the first half, tapping Rodrigo’s cross from close range.
Al Rayyan continued to press, and Rodrigo had a goal disallowed at the one-hour mark. Ali’s brilliant volley in the 65th minute reduced the lead for Al Sailiya, but Al Rayyan kept pressing.
Guedes narrowly missed the target with a later attempt, and his free kick hit the bar, but he had the final say, netting his second goal from a headed pass by Gregore at close range to seal victory.
Despite the defeat, Al Sailiya goalkeeper Ahmed Basher Ali shone with some brilliant saves during the match.
Al Sailiya remained 11th with eight points, above bottom-placed Al Shahania and one behind 10th-placed Umm Salal.
Al Wakrah and Al Arabi will square off at Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium in today’s second match.
QATAR STARS LEAGUE
Umm Salal 2-3 Al Gharafa
Al Sailiya 1-3 Al Rayyan
Today
Al Ahli vs Al Shamal at Al Thumama Stadium (5:30pm)
Al Wakrah vs Al Arabi at Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium (7:30pm)
Tomorrow
Al Shahania vs Al Duhail at Al Khor Stadium (5:30pm)
Qatar SC vs Al Sadd at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (7:30pm)
