Umm
Salal came from behind to secure a late 2-1 away win at Al Khor in Week
16 of the QNB Stars League yesterday. Soroush Hossein scored for Al
Khor in the 14th minute, and Umm Salal replied through Adil Rhaili in
the 54th and Maher Yousef in the injury time.
Al Khor approached the
game in great need of points and they were rewarded for their early
endeavour when Soroush fired in extraordinary style. Having picked up
the ball 40metres out, he advanced forward before unleashing an
unstoppable strike into the corner beyond the outstretched arms of
goalkeeper Baba Malick.
Moments later, Al Khor were close to doubling
their lead as Ariel Thierry rose to meet a Madson cross, but was unable
to find the target.
Things did get better for the home side when
Tunisian attacking midfielder Oussama Darragi received two yellow cards
in quick succession to receive his marching orders. The Orange Fortress
did not let the dismissal get to them and were quickly back on equal
terms after the break. Rhaili was well placed at the back post to react
to a corner and head home.
Into injury time, and with the game
drawing to a close, Rami Shamalah paced down the left wing before
cutting the ball back to substitute Maher, who curled home and secured
full points. Umm Salal moved to 24 points, while Al Khor stayed on 14.
Qatar SC shock Al Sailiya
Meanwhile,
Qatar SC secured a superb 2-0 victory over high-flyers Al Sailiya in
another match of the QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium. The game’s
only goals came through Osama Omari in the 29th and 84th minutes.
The
match started in quick fashion and Luis Jimenez of Qatar SC thought he
had opened the scoring in spectacular fashion with a volley. However,
the referee spotted an infringement in the run-up to the goal.
Not
long after, it was Al Sailiya who should have scored, but Temurkhuja
Abdukholiqov saw his header being brilliantly saved by opposition
goalkeeper Jassim al-Hail.
In terms of league position, the game
turned on its head in the next exchange as Omari got the game’s first
goal. A brilliant whipped cross from the right by Abdul Hussain was
tidily swept home from close range.
Just minutes later, and chasing
an equaliser, Al Sailiya had captain Magdi Siddiq sent off for a second
bookable offence. The Peregrines searched valiantly for a goal and, in
the 78th, Abdukholiqov was again thwarted by Al Hail who remarkably
tipped his shot onto the bar and away to safety.
With the home side
running out of ideas, Qatar SC were able to catch them on the break and
seal the victory late on. Ali Awad’s neat shot rebounded off the post
into the feet of Omari, who rounded a defender and fired into an empty
net.
Qatar SC, who now have 15 points, will be delighted with the victory, while Al Sailiya missed the opportunity to make ground.
Umm Salal’s Adel al-Sulimane gets past a Al Khor defender during the QNB Stars League.