Shamal edge Arabi to take a two-point lead at the top

Al Shamal continued their stunning start to the season as they beat Al Arabi 3-2 to open a two-point lead at the top of the Qatar Stars League.

At the Al Bayt Stadium Saturday, Mohammad Mannai scored a brace (32nd and 68th minutes), while Baghdad Bounedjah scored the other goal from a penalty kick in the 64th minute. For Al Arabi, Yazan al-Naimat (45+1) and Jordan Veretout (72nd minute) were on target. It was Al Shamal’s fourth straight win in as many matches and took their tally to 12 points, two ahead of Qatar SC, who drew against Al Rayyan Saturday. Al Arabi are on four points.

Shamal opened their account with a goal off a long corner kick which was intercepted by Bounedjah and pushed in by al-Manai. Arabi equalised as al-Naimat broke through and struck past defenders.

On the hour mark, Arabi goalkeeper Yousef Hassan made two quick saves but then Alhashmi Mohialdin fouled against Bounedjah and the side was penalised with a penalty which the Algerian scored duly.

Mannai’s second goal was a smooth effort from just inside the box and Shamal went 3-1 up. Frenchman Veretout made a fine strike to make it 2-3 for Arabi, but despite their best efforts they could not equalise again.

Later, Qatar SC battled to a 1-1 draw against Al Rayyan at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. In what turned out to be a thrilling 11 minutes of stoppage time, Ali Saoudi produced a blazing header (90+10’) for Qatar SC to equalise after Serbian striker Aleksander Mitrovic had fired in a goal (90+1 minute) for The Lions.

With a point gained, Qatar SC’s stood second in the standings with 10 points while Al Rayyan moved up to seven points in fourth.

In the 50th minute, an own goal by Qatar SC’s Nasir Baksh was ruled out for offside.

The Lions rejoiced when Mitrovic fired in home from top of the box off a Roger Guedes assist but it was shortlived as Qatar SC’s Saoudi stormed in a fine Yan Mateus free kick to level score.

It was goals galore at the Al Thumama Stadium as Al Ahli grabbed their first win defeating Al Wakrah. Ahli’s goals came from Fahad Waad (eighth minute own goal), Michel Vlap (27th & 72nd minutes), Suhaib Gannan (42nd minute) and Julian Draxler (89 minute). For Wakrah, Redouane Berkane (16th & 46th minutes) and Amin Zahzouh (35th minute penalty) scored.