Duhail cruise past Gharafa as QNB Stars League returns

Al Duhail eased past Al Gharafa 3-0 to go top of the standings as QNB Stars League made a return after three-and-a-half-month break yesterday. At the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Duhail took lead through Ferjani Sassi (31st minute), while Bassam al-Rawi (48th) and Nam Tae-hee (90+3’) also found the target.
The win saw Duhail move to the top of the standings with 17 points from eight matches. Gharafa are fourth with 12 points from as many games while Al Arabi are second with 16 points from 7 matches, and Al Wakrah on 15 from same number of matches.
In what was a resounding win for Duhail. They displayed fine form and were on an attacking spree in the second half and could have scored many more but for the efforts of Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan.
While Gharafa, under Portuguese coach Pedro Martins, began cautiously and held on well, it didn’t take long from Duhail to break through the gaps and launch offensive. The first success came through a corner kick taken by Khalid Mohamed. The ball flew into the danger area and an alert Ferjani Sassi moved clear and waited for the ball before heading it superbly into the net.
Post break, Duhail came back stronger and soon al-Rawi produced a brilliant set piece goal from almost 40 yards. Al-Rawi’s kick saw the ball race over a two-man wall and beyond the stretched hand of goalkeeper Hassan.
Up 2-0, the Red Knights continued to attack and menacingly. In the 64th minute, Almoez Ali ran down the right flank and was in the clear but shot wide. In the 70th minute, Sassi shot from top of the box but the curling kick was deflected by the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Hassan.
The action was followed on as Duhail attacked again through Nam Tae-hee but his left footed kick was parried by Hassan. In the 78th minute, Michael Olunga’s superb left-foot curling kick hit the top left corner of the goal post as Duhail were denied again.
Tae-hee’s persistence paid in the added time when the South Korean picked on an assist from Sassi to break into the ‘D’ and beat a sliding defender and goalkeeper Hassan for his first goal of the match and his third of the season.
For Gharafa, Yacine Brahimi was the lone bright star and produced some key moments including creating a chance for Ishak Belfodil in the 66th minute but the latter hit straight to Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria.
Two more matches will be played today – Al Rayyan take on Al Sailiya, while Al Ahli host Al Arabi – while the other three was postponed.
A victory today would take Arabi right back to the top. The ‘Dream Team’ has only lost once this season, to Al Duhail. However, Al Arabi overcame that setback in no time and beat Al Sailiya 5-1 and played out a 1-1 draw with Umm Salal before the league took a long break for the FIFA World Cup.
Al Arabi coach Younes Ali relies on a number of outstanding players, such as Tunisian Yousef Msakni, who was in action at the World Cup, Aron Gunnarsson, Abdulaziz al-Ansari, Marc Martinez, Abdullah al-Marafi, Ahmed Fathi, Helal Mohamed and Omar al-Soma. “Our preparations were good ahead of the return to league competition and we played more than one friendly match during the break,” said Ali yesterday. “Despite the long pause, the team played a good number of matches, whether in the Ooredoo Cup or the FIFA Referee Cup, in addition to some friendly matches. We played more than five friendly matches, through which the team prepared well for the resumption of the league.”
Al Ahli are placed fifth with 10 points. Al Shamal and Qatar SC too have the same number of points, but are placed sixth and seventh respectively on goal difference.
The Brigadiers, coached by Nebojsa Jovovic, said yesterday: “We are ready against Al Arabi and will make every effort to make fans happy with a distinguished technical level from the Al Ahli club. Our goal is three points.
He added: “We respect Al Arabi as a team with great capabilities and well-known level. However, we have a distinguished and wonderful group of players who are looking to get the best results and we have all worked in the past period to be ready for the match.”