QSL
Doha
Qatar SC and Al Gharafa played out a highly-entertaining 4-4 draw in Week 1 of the 2023-2024 Expo Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.
Bruno Tabata (sixth, 20th and 57th minutes) and Ben Malango (90+11 minute) were on target for Qatar SC, and the team also benefited from an own goal from Mohammed Ali Jamin (20th minute).
Yohan Boli (35th minute), Ahmed Al Janehi (45+5 and 77th minutes), and Yacine Brahimi (90+6 minute) scored for Al Gharafa.
The match witnessed plenty of drama as Qatar SC twice gave up their leads, including a two-goal advantage, before drawing level just before the final whistle.
Matches between these two rivals have always been feisty.
Four minutes later, Qatar SC got into the lead through Tabata, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the box effortlessly sailed to the high center of the goal off a well-timed pass from Bashar Rasan following a fast break.
Youssef Safri’s team subsequently continued to pile pressure on their opponents after the opening goal and their efforts yielded the desired result in the 20th minute, with Tabata finding the target a second time.
With two goals down, Al Gharafa suddenly seemed to wake up from their slumber as they became more purposeful in attack, with more attempts at goals that were either blocked or narrowly missed.
The deficit was eventually cut for The Cheetahs in the 35th minute through Ivory Coast international Boli off a Brahimi assist. Brahimi’s through ball located the Ivorian, who wasted no time in firing a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box to the centre of the goal.
Parity was restored with virtually the last kick of first half, with Farid Boulaya providing another through-ball assist to Al Janehi, who fired in a thundering right-footed shot from the centre of the box to make the match even.
Qatar SC made a double substitution at half-time, with Abdullah Abdulsalam coming in for Raoul Danzabe, while Ben Malango replaced Jassim Ahmed. Al Gharafa, on the other hand, sent in Nasser Al Ahrak in place of Abdullah Ali Saei.
In the 58th minute, Tabata hit his brace of the night with an assist from Omar Al Emadi to restore Qatar SC’s lead.
With the match seemingly heading the way of Qatar SC, Al Janehi shocked the home crowd by powering home Homam Al Ameen’s cross in the 77th minute to get on the scoresheet for the second time on the night and draw level for Al Gharafa.
Deep into injury time, Brahimi gave Al Gharafa the lead before Qatar SC’s Malango scored four minutes later to ensure the match ended even.
Al Rayyan off to perfect start vs Al Markhiya
Al Rayyan defeated Al Markhiya 1-0 in their opening match of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.
New signing Roger Guedes provided the only goal of the match in the 30th minute.
Al Rayyan gave an indication of their hunger for victory from the blast of the whistle and they would have gone one up in the first minute of play had Rodrigo Moreno not been caught offside as Guedes tried a through ball.
There were subsequently a couple of attempts from both sides, but it was Guedes who eventually found the net in the 30th minute to give Al Rayyan the lead. The Brazilian forward, who joined The Lions in the summer, slotted in a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box to the bottom right corner after a headed pass by Rodrigo.
The match was evenly balanced from there on as Al Markhiya, who finished last season in seventh place, continued their search for an equalizer, while Al Rayyan held firm.
On resumption of the second half, Al Rayyan continued from where they stopped as they kept mounting pressure on Al Markhiya.
Leonardo Jardim’s men could have doubled their lead in the 55th minute had Al Markhiya’s Abdelghani Laallam own goal not been overturned by VAR.
Desperately seeking to restore parity, Al Markhiya made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, with Rochinha going out for Naoufal Bannis and Ali Said replacing Moayed Hassan.
The substitution could have paid off in the 67th minute when Ali Said placed a through ball to Yusupha Njie who was, however, caught offside.
Al Rayyan continued to turn on the heat against their opponents, but their lack of a clinical finish in front of goal ensured that the margin remained the same in the end with The Lions.
Al Duhail, Al Sadd to begin campaign today
On Friday, big guns Al Duhail and Al Sadd will open their campaigns.
Defending champions Duhail take on Al Ahli at Al
Thumama Stadium, while record 16-time winners Al Sadd face Umm Salal at the Al Bayt Stadium.