Action from the match between Umm Salal and Qatar Sports Club yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

 

By Sports Reporter/Doha


Umm Salal equalized in the last minute to ensure the points where shared between rivals Qatar Sports Club in an entertaining tie yesterday.
Qatar Sports Club took the early initiative in the match, scoring with virtually the Kings first attack of the game. Mousa Allaq steering the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the goal, latching onto a good cross from Shaheen Ali in the 6th minute.
With Umm Salal behind, charismatic head coach Bulent Ugun rallied his troops from the sidelines. It quickly brought the desired results with new signing Yannick Sagbo coming close to equalizing for Umm Salal. The Ivorian target man was central to his side’s good work, along with winger Ismail a constant threat on the right wing. Both linked up well to register a good save from Qatar Sports Club keeper Mohmad Mubark.
The Kings looked compact in the final third, with the strike partnership of Hamdi Harboui and Moucine Iajour rarely threatening in the first half.  Despite the Umm Salal onslaught, the Kings went into half time leading the tie 1-0.
Umm Salal continued on the front foot at the beginning of the second half, pressing hard for an equalizer. Attacker Ismail Mahmoud was introduced for Barzan’s falcons and he soon made his presence felt in the tie, stretching the Qatar Sports Club defence on the left hand side.
Seeing his side under pressure, Kings coach Radi Shneshel made a tactical change, pushing striker Iajour back into midfield. It proved to be a master stroke by the Iraqi tactician, and with his side now set to take Umm Salal on the break. It was indeed the Moroccan striker who bagged the second goal of the tie in spectacular fashion.
The new signing from Moghreb Tetouan, unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box which nestled in the top right hand corner of the goal. It was his first goal for his new side, and he was duly mobbed by his team mates and a delighted Shneshel.
Umm Salal battled back into the tie in the 80th minute. Yannick Sagbo was knocked down by the onrushing Mohamed Mubarak. The Ivorian dusted himself of to take the spot kit, which was initially saved however the rebounded was calmly dispatched by the Ivorian who has scored in every game for his new side in the QSL.
Qatar Sports Clun looked dangerous on the break, with Iajour at the centre of the action, his raw pace stretched Salal throughout and two jinxing runs should have led to a third goal for his side.
However, the determination of  Ugun’s side lead to a deserved last minute equalizer. A drilled cross rebounded into the air and the well taken half volley from Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, ensured that the points where shared and honors even in this entertaining tie at the Thani Bin Jassim stadium.

Al Rayyan beat Meisameer 2-0
Al Rayyan left it late to defeat fellow promoted side Meisameer by two goals to nil at the Thani Bin Jassim stadium. The promoted sides have had vastly different starts to the QSL season, with Rayyan coming into the tie unbeaten whilst Meisameer had not registered a single point so far.
The first half Meisameer sprung into life having two clear chances to open the scoring. The Flames Brazilian striker Erivelto was the first to go close, his effort was comfortably dealt with by Rayyan keeper Omar Barry. Only minutes later Meisameer’s captain Mohammed Noori beat the Rayyan offside trap to go one on one with Barry, the Rayyan keeper ended up victorious again.
Al Rayyan slowly found their way into the match, with talismanic captain Rodrego Tabata pulling the strings for his side. The Qatari international was a constant menace throughout, a brilliant pinpoint pass to Hamad Ismael that gave the Lions their first chance in the tie.
Tabata was again a menace from the deadball, and a well drilled free kick on the 40th minute brought a strong save from Meisameer keeper Basel Zidan. Both sides went in level 0-0.
In the second half, Rayyan came out with renewed vigor, creating a host of chances and putting Meisameer under pressure. Sebastian Soria came close with a glancing header just over the bar from a well delivered Rodrego Tabata free kick on the 51st minute.
Meisameer had to call on the services of experience keeper Basel Zidan to keep them in the game, with a host of crucial saves at the start of the second half. Indeed, Meisameer did mange two golden chances to open the scoring on the break. A well worked shot from Saoud Ali only just passed Omar Barry’s right had post. Whilst stiker Erivelto has guilt edged chance drifts past the post on the 74th minute.
The flames would set to rue those chances, as Al Rayyan opened the scoring though new signing Gonzalo Viera on the 79th minute. He scored from close range, after being set up by compatriot Victor Cacares, much to the delight of the Rayyan fans.
Rayyan delivered the final blow in the 88th minute to wrap up the match, Sergio Garcia beat the offside trap and volleyed from close range thanks to another accurate pinpoint pass from Tabata.

Wakrah get first win

Al Wakrah registered their first win of the 2015-16 season when they defeated Al Khor 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Ruben Amorim who scored in the 18th minute. Mohsine Moutaouali lobbed a cross into the box from the right flank which was headed down by Mahir Bakur into the path of Ruben Amorim and the Portuguese midfielder calmly flicked it in with the outside of his right foot to give Wakrah the lead and the winnin goal.