Last-gasp penalty sees Al Ahli hold Rayyan 1-1; QSC blank Al Arabi 3-0
A last-gasp penalty strike saw Al Ahli hold Al Rayyan 1-1 in thrilling Week 7 round of the QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium on Thursday. The draw saw them stay second to Al Sadd in the standings with 16 points to their credit.
Earlier, Qatar Sports Club scored a 3-0 win over Al Arabi at the Qatar SC Stadium to move up the table to sixth spot with nine points.
In the third clash of the day, Al Wakrah scored a 3-1 win over Al Sailiya to be fifth on the table with ten ponts.
The much looked forward to tie between Al Rayyan and Ahl saw Franck Kom put Al Rayyan ahead in the 77th minute, the lead that was neutralised by Al Ahli’s Nabil El Zhar (90+5 penalty).
The signature match of Week 7, an encounter between clubs with great history and rich tradition in Qatar football, had all ingredients of a thriller.
Possession was almost equal, as both sides fought it out.
They attacked from the word go, but a goal eluded the opening session.
In the first half, Gabriel Mercado sent his shot wide, Abdulaziz Hatem was thwarted by Al Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguez and Kom headed wide of the target for Al Rayyan, who continued to miss the services of their ace player Yacine Brahimi through illness.
For Al Ahli, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, Mohammed Diame and Shane Lowry were off-target.
Both teams sustained the momentum in the second half.
Al Ahli’s Ali Qaderi had a goal disallowed for offside in the 66th minute when he was on hand to send in a rebound off the left upright after Nabil shot first.
Much to Al Ahli’s dismay, an unmarked Kom took Al Rayyan ahead by taking advantage off an assist by Yohan Boli.
When it looked like Al Rayyan would seal an important victory came the breakthrough deep into stoppage time. Al Ahli’s substitute Nasser Khalfan was fouled by Mohammed Alaaeldin and referee Abdulla Ali Athba pointed to the spot, a decision confirmed by the Video
Assistant Referee. And Nabil converted from the spot.
Qatar SC 3 Al Arabi 0
Qatar SC blanked Al Arabi 3-0 with new recruit Youcef Belaili scoring a brace (38th-minute penalty and 87th-minute
penalty) and Alejandro Jimena (90+5) scored the goals as Qatar SC took their points tally to nine, while Al Arabi stood on five points.
Qatar SC thus continued their good run, having beaten Al Wakrah in the last round.
Incidentally, Belaili had netted the all-important goal in that match. In the process, The Kings had jumped from the bottom of the table to eighth position then.
On the other hand, Al Arabi’s woes compounded, having lost 1-4 to Al Sadd in the Qatar Derby in Week 6.
Belaili and Anthony Okpotu were at the helm of Qatar SC’s offensives, the former playing a composed game and the latter impressing with his speed and power.
Okpotu came very close to scoring once, but for a goalline save by Al Arabi defender Marc Martinez even as goalkeeper Mahmoud Ibrahim had left his charge in pursuit of a rescue act.
Al Arabi mainly had Aron Gunnarsson’s aerial shot and Abdulaziz Al Ansari’s weak shot to show for their efforts in the first half.
The opening goal came when a penalty was awarded against Al Arabi’s Jassem Jaber’s foul on Belaili and the latter himself converted from the spot.
Changing ends, Qatar SC continued from where they left off. They went 2-0 up after Belaili was spot-on with a penalty, awarded after he was tripped by substitute Mohammed Bader Sayyar.
Jimena then headed in a corner kick deep into stoppage time to seal the issue in Qatar SC’s favour.
Al Sailiya 1 Al Wakrah 3
Al Wakrah prevailed over Al Sailiya at the Al Ahli Stadium with Mohamed Benyettou (49th minute), Omar Ali (52nd minute) and Cristian Ceballos (75th minute) scoring for Al Wakrah, while Abdulqadir Ilyas (90+1) pulled one back for Al Sailiya.