Al Duhail’s Karim Boudiaf (left) vies for the ball possession with Al Sadd’s captain, Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez during their QNB Stars League match played at the Al Duhail Stadium yesterday.
Title-chasing Al Sadd were made to wait when a last gasp own-goal saw a thrilling two-all draw in a drama-filled round 20 clash in the QNB Stars League (QSL) yesterday.
Ace Algerian striker and tournament top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah had put the table toppers Al Sadd ahead by scoring in the 27th minute before they were saved by an own goal by substitute Murad Naji at the stroke of final whistle (90+5).
Moroccan striker Yousef El Arabi, the last two seasons’ league top scorer in Qatar, struck both goals for the reigning champions Al Duhail in the 75th and 85th minutes.
His second goal came off a penalty kick, awarded by referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim after Hamed Ismail fouled substitute Ali Afif.
Al Sadd and Al Duhail now have 51 and 47 points respectively.
Much was at stake for the match as it would decided the title and Al Sadd would have been crowned had they won the match.
On the other hand, Al Duhail needed only a draw to stay in the title race. Al Sadd, captained by Xavi Hernandez, could have been in the lead in the 14th minute had Akram Afif not thwarted from the spot by Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine Lecomte. The penalty came as a result of a foul by Mohammed Moosa on Bounedjah.
The Red Knights could have equalised in the 45th minute had Japanese midfielder Shoya Nakajima’s chip shot after evading three defenders not hit against the crossbar. Al Sadd called the shots early on, but Al Duhail grew into the game as it wore on.
Al Sadd had beaten Al Duhail 3-1 in the first leg.
If Al Sadd beat Al Ahli in the next round, on April 4, they will become the 2018-19 QSL .
Weiss nets double as Al Gharafa defeat Al Rayyan
Al Gharafa yesterday defeated Al Rayyan 4-2 thanks to a brilliant double by Slovak international Vladimir Weiss (22, 78 - penalty) and strikes from Mehdi Taremi (28) and Lucas Mendes (56) at the Al Duhail Stadium yesterday.
Captain Rodrigo Tabata scored off a penalty in the 15th minute and Gelmin Rivas (38) found the mark for Al Rayyan, who even took the lead at one stage. Al Rayyan had themselves to blame as they conceded the lead and initiative. It was a blow to The Lions’ bid to stay in the third position.
Al Rayyan stayed on 33 points, while Al Gharafa moved to 25 points. It was The Cheetahs’ seventh victory, whereas Al Rayyan crashed to their fifth defeat.
A Rayyan dominated the proceedings early, but Al Gharafa settled into their stride slowly.
Al Gharafa earned a penalty in the seventh minute, but they missed it. Abdelaziz Hatem touched the ball from the spot for Taremi to slot home the penalty, but the Iranian striker fumbled with it.
Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa had played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Al Ahli win ‘Hilal Derby’
At the Al Ahli Stadium, the home team registered a 2-1 win over Al Arabi. Al Ahli, with their 10th victory, raised their points tally to 33, whereas Al Arabi remained on 27.
Meshaal Abdullah (24) and Mohammed Al Bayati (86) scored for Al Ahli. For Al Arabi, Victor Vazquez netted a goal in the 61st minute.
The match was dubbed ‘Hilal Derby’ because both clubs are located in that area.
Al Ahli went into the match on the back of a goalless draw with Al Shahania, while Al Arabi had lost 1-2 to Al Gharafa in Week 19.
It was a consolation for Al Ahli, who had been going through a lean patch of late under Spanish coach Ruben de la Barrera, who replaced Czech Milan Macala during the winter break.
