Al Shahania players celebrate their win over Qatar SC in the QNB Stars League in Doha yesterday. Picture by: Syed Omar
Doha: Al Shahania stun Qatar SC 3-2 while Al Rayyan edged Al Arabi 1-0 in Week 5 of the QNB Stars League matches yesterday.
At the Al Arabi Stadium, goals from Kesse Amangoua (seventh minute), Sultan Al Kuwari (30th) and Mesaad Al Hamad (79th) helped Al Shahania to pick up full points
Samuel Eto’o (52nd minute) and Yousef Al Kubaisi (90+1) scored for Qatar SC.
The second victory helped Al Shahania to seven points. Qatar SC stayed on three.
Al Shahania went 2-0 up within half-an-hour despite Qatar SC dominating the game.
Amangoua was on target after Saad Hussain did the spadework. Sultan found the mark off a pass from Vazquez Luciano to net his second goal in this season’s tournament.
Al Shahania capitalised on the two clear chances they had, while Qatar SC were unlucky not to have scored before half-time.
The Kings returned to the field with more vigour and Ali Awad soon hit the side netting from close.
However, they were not to be denied for long as Eto’o flicked in the ball first-time after receiving a pass from Ahmed Moein.
It was the Cameroonian striker’s first goal in the QNB Stars League.
Qatar SC kept pushing hard even as Al Shahania defended resolutely.
Al Shahania found their third goal, with Mesaad neatly slotting the ball home and Luciano, who was easily the star of the night, having a role in it.
Qatar SC pulled back for one more time in stoppage time even as Al Shahania had the last laugh at the end of a high-scoring thriller.
In the first match at the same venue, Al Rayyan also collected full points..
Mohammed Juma netted the all-important goal in the 37th minute for Al Rayyan. Al Rayyan took their points tally to 11, whereas Al Arabi stood at nine.
The Lions went top of the QNB Stars League standings and will stay there temporarily as the matches of Al Sadd and Al Duhail, who have 10 points each, have been postponed in view of their AFC Champions League quarterfinal second-leg matches on Monday against Iranian sides Esteghlal and Persepolis respectively.
Al Sadd and Al Duhail were to play Al Khor and Al Duhail respectively on Sunday.
Al Arabi were coming off two consecutive wins, but could not extend their winning run on home turf.
However, Luka Bonacic’s men can take solace from the fact that they gave a tough fight to Al Rayyan.
Al Rayyan dominated the first half with 66 per cent possession during which they were rewarded with the winning goal. The percentage fell to 56 on completion of the game as Al Arabi showed more alacrity in the second session.
The goal came as a result of a long lob into the Al Arabi box. After the ball hit the crossbar over the head of goalkeeper Masoud Zarayi following Al Arabi’s Mudir Abdurabu’s faulty clearance,
Mohammed Juma was on hand to head home the rebound. Mohammed Juma had a good game even as Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria were rather off-colour. Zarayi too was good below the bar, but for the goal that turned out to be crucial.
Al Arabi’s attacks lacked teeth overall. The likes of Franco Hurtado, Diego Jardel and Mailson de Farias could not make inroads into the rival area. The Dream Team had a goal ruled offside in the 87th minute when Mohammed El Neel found the mark off a pass from Mailson.
Al Rayyan’s Argentinian striker Jonathan Menendez, who joined them from Independiente, made his QNB Stars League debut when he replaced Khalfan Ibrahim after one hour.
In today’s matches, Al Gharafa face Umm Salal.
Al Gharafa have seven points as against Umm Salal’s four.
The Cheetahs will look to consolidate their position with a victory, while The Orange Fortress will try to stay on course for a top-four spot.
In the other match, Al Ahli face Al Kharaitiyat.
Al Ahli have just one victory to their credit, while Al Kharaitiyat are the only team yet to open the account in the League.
Both coaches, Milan Macala of Al Ahli and Abdulaziz El Amri of Al Kharaitiyat had stressed the need for a win at this stage as the teams are desperate to make a turnaround in their fortunes.
