Muaither hold Arabi to a draw

Relegation threatened Muaither offered stiff resistance to pull off a 1-1 draw Al Arabi in a dogged QSL encounter at Al Gharafa stadium yesterday. Muaither opened the scoring through Japanese midfielder Minori Sato early in the first half but Al Arabi drew level with a late equaliser in the 43rd minute when Ahmad Khalfan fired one home from close range.
The second half did not produce any goals though attacking football was witnessed from both sides.
Keeping their robust form on the pitch in the second half of the season, Muaither did not disappoint when they grabbed the lead against their superior rivals in the 17th minute. Japanese import Sato scored the opening goal for the boys in white as Al Arabi’s new coach Oswaldo Oliveira looked dejected to see his side concede and early goal. It was the 25-year-old’s first goal for his new side. Muaither’s Ahmed Yasin – charging in from the right flank – clipped a ball past Koua towards Sato – who flicked the ball home from close range.
A couple of minutes later, Al Arabi’s Khalfan deflected the ball towards the goal but Muaither’s Hamad Mansour stopped the shot with his right leg. Another two minutes later and Al Arabi’s Omar al-Amadi unleashed a long-range strike but his powerful shot was punched away by Muaither goalkeeper Basel Zidan.
In the 43rd minute, Al Arabi drew level with a neat exchange between Ali Mohammad and Khalfan. Mohamed clipped a neat ball for unmarked Khalfan who flicked the ball with ease from close range to leave Muaither players shell-shocked.
The second half had few chances, however in the 80th minute, Muaither could have scored a winner but Kissito Yessoh ran out of steam as he tried to flick the ball into the net from close range but his feeble shot – with only goalkeeper to beat – was blocked. The draw leaves Phillipe Birol’s side five points away from safety.

Honours even between Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat
Umm Salal and relegation threatened Al Kharaitiyat shared the points in a 0-0 draw yesterday. The away side Al Kharaitiyat missed a host of chances in the first half to take the lead, but overall will be pleased to pick up their first point in three QSL matches.

Bottom-placed Al Wakrah snatch a point off Al Gharafa
Bottom side Al Wakrah shared spoils in a goalless draw against former Qatar Stars League champions Al Gharafa on Saturday evening.  Hosts Al Gharafa failed to impress against a Wakrah side that has only 2 wins out of 18 games before the clash.