Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar SC leapfrogged into the top four of the QNB Stars League season 2022-23 as they beat Umm Salal 4-1 in their Week 11 clash at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Tuesday.
It was Qatar SC’s third win in a row and they moved on to 16 points.
Qatar SC, who swung into big action right from the word go, led 2-1 at half-time.
Sebatian Soria (second minute), Moataz Majed Bostami (18th minute), Badr Benoun (55th minute) and Ben Malango (60th minute) did the scoring for the winners, while Jonathan Kodjia pulled one back for Umm Salal in the 27th minute of the match.
Displaying excellent form, Qatar SC scored within minutes of the start, with captain Soria dipping in for a header that beat the rival goalkeeper at the left post. Soria was fed by a perfect cross from Nasir Peer Baksh after the move was initiated from a superb back heel pass of Malango.
It was not long before Bashar Resan produced a superb free-kick for midfielder Bostami to judge and head Qatar SC’s second goal.
Pushed back by Qatar SC’s attacking play, Umm Salal looked for an offensive and midway through the first half their French-born skipper Kodjia scored a wonderful goal picking on a long ball – first on to his chest before sending in a rasping drive from a tight angle on right side of the box which flew over a diving Qatar SC goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi.
Umm Salal, however, could not succeed in scoring more whereas Qatar SC returned to pump in two more goals in the second half.
Benoun added to Qatar SC’s tally with the third strike as he latched on to a long set-piece kick taken by Bashar Rezan. With the ball landing right in the centre of the box, Benoun lunged ahead to score with his left foot.
Qatar SC’s fourth and final goal of the match followed five minutes later when Joao Teixeira sent in a sailing corner kick and Malango jumped high, despite being marked, to head the ball past an outstretched left hand of Umm Salal goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar.
In the 63rd minute of the game, Qatar SC’s Ibrahim Majed was shown a second yellow card for a tackle reducing the side to 10-man.
They, however, held on well to ensure no damage even as Umm Salal tried in vain suffering their fourth loss of the league. Umm Salal stood on seven points.
Boli strikes a brace
as Al Gharafa held
In the late match of the day at the same venue, Al Rayyan rallied to hold Al Gharafa to a 2-2 draw.
Striker Yohan Boli struck twice for Al Rayyan after the rivals were leading on both the occasions. The teams were locked 1-1 at half time.
While Mehdi Tahrat (12th minute) and Ishak Belfodil (52nd minute) scored for Al Gharafa, Boli hit the net in opening half’s added time (45+1’), and in the 83rd minute.
It was an exciting contest which gave lots of thrill to the good crowd but both teams also had their fair share of missed chances.
Strengthened by the return of their players Amro Surag, Hammam Al Amin and Ahmed Alaaeldin, The Cheetahs were in an attacking mood. And they struck early too when Tahrat battled for the ball before sending in a superb left-footer from well outside the box.
Al Rayyan kept up the battle and in the 33rd minute Boli had a good chance off a free kick ball but his right foot kick saw the ball go well over the bar.
Al Gharafa hit back through and in the 30th minute Belfodil had a clear chance but while trying to steer clear of Al Rayyan goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguesdos, the Algerian striker sent the ball just wide of the left post.
Boli then levelled terms for his side, connecting a good cross from Mohamed Abdelfatah just before the half time whistle.
On return, Al Gharafa soon went up the lead again as Belfodil moved in from the left and into the ‘D’ going past defenders for a fine solo goal.
Al Gharafa captain Yacine Brahimi then in the 76th minute broke through the rival defence line to provide a golden opportunity to Belfodil with a cross but the latter failed to get the vital connect.
In a reversal, Boli returned into big action catching on to a long ball he held back a challenging defender to go through with the ball for an equalizer.
In the dying minutes of added time, Al Rayyan substitute Ali Malolah Karami made a good attempt but his shot went straight to Al Gharafa goalkeeper Qasem Burhan who held fort, again.
With a fourth draw in their 10 matches, Al Gharafa are 7th on the table with 13 points while Al Rayyan are 11th after their second draw with 5 points.
Al Markhiya hold
Al Ahli 2-2
In the earlier match played at the Al Duhail Stadium, Al Markhiya held Al Ahli to a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Al Ahli’s goals were scored by Ali Qaderi in the 27th minute and Yousef Ballan (own goal in the 66th minute).
Driss Fettouhi (85th minute) and substitute Aymen Hussein (penalty, 90+3 minute) scored for Al Markhiya.
Al Ahli thus raised their score to 14 points and
Al Markhiya to nine.