Players of Al Khor and Al Rayyan vie for ball possession during the QNB Stars League at Al Khor Stadium yesterday.
Doha: Struggling Al Khor, one of the two sides at the bottom of the QNB Stars League heap, saved it for last.
Just when club fans thought the match would end in a goal-less draw, the home team yesterday stunned former champions Al Rayyan with a late goal.
Brazilian Wagner Ferreira, who had been off-color in the early part of the clash, produced a neat finish to score the only goal of the match in the 90th minute at Al Khor Stadium.
The late goal, the first of the season for Wagner, helped Al Khor pick up their first win of the 2018-19 season in what was round 8 of the QNB Stars League.
“I am very happy to have scored the goal,” Wanger said yesterday after the clash.
“It was a tough match but we fought really well. We believed in ourselves and stuck to the task. This win feels really good,” the Brazilian added.
After receiving a loopy cross from the middle of the pitch, substitute Adel Ahmad Mohmad picked up Wagner with a cross inside the Al Khor box. Wagner, despite marking by Ali Sanad Al-Nuaimi, managed shoot to the left of Al Rayyan keeper Oumar Barry. The ball hit the net after slipping through the outstretched hand of Barry.
The goal left Al Rayyan defenders clutching their heads as Al Khor coach celebrated with the players at the touchline.
In an enterprising first 10 minutes of the round 8 clash, Al Rayyan stitched a few threatening moves but on every occasion Al Khor defender well to block captain Rodrigo Tabata and veteran forward Sebastian Soria.
On one occasion, forward Tabata broke free off his marker but his effort was quickly waved off as off-side by the linesman. In the 13th minute, a short stoppage in play was caused by a rough foul by Daniel Goumou on Al Khor’s Mohammed Ahmed Buqshan as ball possession by players from sides increased in intensity.
Four minutes later, Ahmed Yasin of Al Khor attempted a low shot at Al Rayyan goal from close range but Mohammed Juma - patrolling the backline - blocked the shot.
A few seconds later, Al Khor striker Diogo Da silva missed one of the easiest chances at the fag end of an indirect free-kick. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Diogo Da silva shot wide of the mark from inside the Al Rayyan box with keeper Barry beaten by the shot. At the half-hour mark, Tabata curled in a beautifully-taken direct free-kick but his shot narrowly missed its target.
Close to the hour-mark, Al Rayyan’s Lucca curled in a powerful shot from outside the Al Khor box but keeper Mohammed Ahmed Al Bakr palmed the ball away to kill the move.
Things change in the last minute when Wagner produced the late stunner.
For Al Rayyan and their coach Rodolfo Martin Arruabarrena, there’s plenty to think about as the team struggles for goals this season.
In their last match, a Tabata goal helped them beat minnows Al Shahania 1-0. In the round before that, Al Rayyan were crushed 5-0 by Al Sadd in the ‘Qatar Clasico’ clash.
Meanwhile, Al Ahli yesterday produced a spirited display to beat Al Shahania 2-1 in their QNB Stars League clash.
Mohsine Moutaouali (13) and Mohammed Muntari (72) scored the goals for the winners at Grand Hamad Stadium under lights. For the losing side, a neat finish from Vazquez Luciano helped Al Shahania (79) reduce the margin of defeat. After a fast-paced start, Al Ahli opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
Moutaouali went to his right and after a few steps, he unleashed a great kick to beat Al Shahania keeper Amer Ahmad Al Amri with a powerful shot.
In the 34th minute, Hamad Saoud Al Jehaini of Al Shahania curled in a free-kick that narrowly missed the Al Ahli crossbar.
In the second half, a rough tackle by Luciano brought down Nigel De Jong causing a long stoppage in play.
Soon afterwards, Al Ahli scored their second goal. Muntari despite under pressure from Ayoub Mashhour scored the second goal for Al Ahli. It was Muntari’s second goal of the season that came from a left-footed drive.
In the 79th minute, Al Shahania’s Luciano picked up a lose ball and flicked the ball towards Al Ahli goal. The ball hit keeper Yazan Naim’s leg and went into the net.
After a few feisty exchanges close to the final whistle, Al Ahli emerged 2-1 winners.
