Msakni helps Al Arabi beat Al Shamal, top the standings

Tribune News NetworkDohaTunisian Youssef Msakni’s penalty enabled Al Arabi to keep up their perfect start in the QNB Stars League as the ‘Dream Team’ beat Al Shamal 1-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.With their successive fourth win of the season, Arabi opened up a two-point advantage at the top over second-placed Al Wakrah, while Shamal remained sixth with as many points. Shamal had a chance to score the equaliser in the 72st minute but Al Arabi goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada saved a penalty from Yacine Bammmou.Shamal had made a strong start and forced Arabi players to long balls and not give them any freedom to move the ball, especially in the midfield. But Arabi had a real chance in the 24th minute but Ibrahim Nasser Kala’s shot went wide. Shamal though they had the lead but Amjad Atwan’s powerful shot in the 32nd minute was blocked brilliantly by Abunada.Al Arabi continued to press and Youssef Muftah almost scored in the 45th minute, but his shot was kept away by Al Shamal goalkeeper Babacar Seck for a corner kick.Post-interval, Arabi continued their intense attack and managed to get a penalty in the 56th minute after VAR ruled Omar Al Somah was brought down in the box by Shamal defender Fahd Waad. Msakni, who took the penalty, calmly slotted the ball to the left of Seck.Shamal were given a chance to come back into the game when Bammmou was fouled by Arabi defender Munesia, but the forward was denied by Abunada. Shamal did dominate the last minutes of the match, while Arabi players retreated in their won and relied on the counter-attack.The match was evenly fought and there were few chances on both sides, with the exception of a dangerous chance for Umm Salal, which was blocked by the post. The first half witnessed only a few chances, the most dangerous of which was in the eighth minute. Umm Salal’s Abdullah Khafifi, returning from suspension, hit a powerful shot that hit the post and bounced back into the field.At the end of first half, the level increased and Umm Salal managed to score off a counter-attack, with Teixeira finding the target. Umm Salal almost scored the second goal from a penalty kick two minutes later had it not been for the intervention of VAR and cancelled the kick.In the second half, Sailiya dominated the game and forced Umm Salal to fall back and rely only on counter-attacks, which posed some danger to the goal due to the speed of the trio of Jonathan Kodjia, Sardor Rashidov and Teixeira.Despite all that, Sailiya missed chances. They came closest in the 63rd minute, but for the alertness of the Umm Salal goalkeeper who thwarted Sergio Strandberg. Sailiya’s last chance to equalize came two minutes into stoppage time when Bilal Saeedani hit his shot wide.Umm Salal edge Al SailiyaIn the other match of the day, Umm Salal overcame Al Sailiya challenge by beating them 1-0 at the Al Janoub Stadium. Portuguese Joao Teixeira scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute. Umm Salal are 10th with four points following their first victory, while Sailiya remained on three points and in 11th spot.