Tribune News Network
Doha
An injury-time goal saw Al Shamal hold Al Arabi to a thrilling 1-1 draw in their opening clash of the Expo Stars League 2023-24 season at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.
Earlier, the league kicked off new QSL season with Al Wakrah cruising past promoted side Muaither 3-0 at the Al Janoub Stadium.
In the more exciting late evening action, just when the Dream Team seemed to be heading home - riding on an Al Shamal own goal (29th minute) advantage - coach Poya Asbaghi’s team bounced back in style with a smart Ali Olwan goal (90+2’) to force a telling draw.
The equalizer also underlined Al Shamal’s resolve after had conceded the goal when Matias Nani deflected the ball into his own net while trying to negotiate action following a corner kick.
Despite the setback, Al Shamal fought hard even as Al Arabi also tried to consolidate the lead.
In the end, Al Arabi’s error in defence saw Olwan snatch on a chance to first take the ball over an advancing goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail’s head before rushing on to head the ball into the goal.
It was a delightful end for Al Shamal while Al Arabi’s coach Younes Ali looked on in dismay.
It was a contest of absorbing action at the one of the World Cup stadiums and both sides displayed fine football but their defence line and goalkeepers also stood out.
In the very 11th minute of the match, a kick from Al Arabi’s striker Youssef Msakni was well saved by Al Shamal custodian Babacar Seck. Msakni was fed by the assist from Ibrahim Kalla.
Three minutes later it were Al Shamal raiding the rival den but forward Ricardo Gomes’ threatening right-footed shot from top of the box went on to hit the left post. Gomes had picked on teammate Ali Olwan’s header.
Gomes was again in action in the 23rd minute and this time his kick went on to hit the outside of the left goal post after deflecting from a defender’s foot.
In the 31st minute, another of Gomes’ attempt was saved by Al Arabi keeper Jassim Al Hail in the bottom left corner.
Minutes later, an Ali Olwan shot went wide to the left.
Early in the second half, Al Arabi came steamrolling but Al Shamal fought off well and soon launched a counter but luck continued to elude then as a successful strike of Gomes in the 57th minute was ruled offside by the referee and rightly so.
Gomes continued to work hard and in the 67th minute picked on an Omid Ebrahimi cross to head from the centre of the box but once again goalkeeper Al Hail was alert to make a collection in the bottom left corner.
There were more attempts later by Al Shamal’s Nani whose header was a bit too high, and Al Arabi’s Omar Al Somah whose low kick was averted.
And just when it looked like Al Arabi were heading for a win, the added time action from Al Shamal and their Jordanian forward Olwan pulled things back for the side.
Assal brace as Blue Wave sink Muaither 3-0
Earlier in the opening match of the new season at Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah hit two goals in four minutes to go on to beat Muaither 3-0.
Ayoub Assal hit a brace (45+3 minute) and (72nd minute) after Mohamed Benyettou (44th minute) had fired in the first goal of the season as The Blue Wave gave Muaither, who earned promotion to the top flight as Second Division champions, a taste of what to expect in the premier division.
The first attempt at goal of the game, and indeed the season, fell to Muaither’s Aymane El Hassouni in the third minute, but his right-footed shot from outside the box off an assist by Nassim Benaissa, though close, slightly missed to the right.
The two teams had a couple of early chances, but both sides were not clinical enough to finish them off.
Just as the match seemed to be heading for a goalless first half, Al Wakrah sprang a surprise with two goals in four minutes.
Benyettou fired his side to a deserved lead in the 44th minute with a well-driven right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box to the centre of the goal, before Assal made it two in the third minute of injury time after his right-footed shot from the centre of the box caught goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues napping with the ball sailing to the high centre of the goal. The goal was assisted by Hazem Shehata.
Muaither substituted Saif Hassan Al Mohannadi for Yousef Sabri Yahri at half-time, while Denis Alibec came in for Mohamed Salah in the 67th minute as Jose Murcia’s men desperately searched for an answer to Al Wakrah’s challenge.
Despite the changes, it was Al Wakrah who extended their lead, with Assal scoring his second of the night in the 72nd minute with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner to effectively bury Muaither’s chance of a comeback.
