El Jaish striker Abderrazzak Hamdallah (left) scored the winner against Al Ahli yesterday. (Below) Action from the match between Al Wakrah and Al Arabi yesterday.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Hosts Al Wakrah yesterday rubbed salt into Al Arabi wounds by beating the Doha giants 1-0 in their Qatar Stars League (QSL) clash.
A first-half goal by Abdul Rahiman Hussain (10th minute) was enough for hosts Al Wakrah to beat Al Arabi aiming to remain in the top four of QSL.
By virtue of the loss, Arabi have lost two successive games. Last week Al Sailiya beat Al Arabi.
Coach Gianfranco Zola’s side must reassess their plans quickly if they aim to close the gap on Al Rayyan, El Jaish, Lekhwiya and Al Sadd.
For Wakrah, it was their second win in the last three QSL clashes, helping Jose Mauricio’s side to sit at eighth spot. Al Wakrah now have a tally of 17 points from 14 matches.
After conceding the early goal, Al Arabi desperately sought the equaliser - even substituting three players - but failed to break the defense line of Mauricio’s side.
It was Al Wakrah’s only fifth win this season whereas for Al Arabi, it was their fifth loss under Italian coach Zola.
Jaish beat Ahli
Earlier, a strike by Abderrazzaq Hamedallah was enough for El Jaish to beat Al Ahli in a round 14 clash at Al Ahli Stadium yesterday.
Hamedallah fired home the match-winning in the 4th minute of the clash that has allowed El Jaish to leapfrog over Al Sadd into second place on the QSL points table.
Al Sadd (27 points) briefly went past El Jaish on Sunday with a 5-1 drubbing of Mesaimeer 5-1.
However, El Jaish returned to their place of pride, having defended stoutly against Al Ahli on Tuesday.
Under pressure to find the equaliser, Al Ahli benched Khalil Sharief Maknashahi (50th minute) and brought in Abdul Ghafoor Abdullah but El Jaish remained vigilant throughout the second half.
In another blow to Al Ahli hopes for next clash, Ndombe Mubele on Monday was booked by referee Saoud Ali Al‐athba in the 75th minute.
Al Ahli, placed 11th, have a tally of just 14 points. The QSL teams split for a 10-day winter break.
QSL action will resume on January 2, 2016.
