Al Gharafa hand Wakrah fifth defeat of the season

Nemeth, Weiss on target for Gharafa * Yannick Sagbo brace gives Umm Salal 2-0 win over Al KharaitiyatAl Wakrah continued to languish at the bottom of the Qatar Stars League after suffering their fifth defeat in six matches in the Qatar Stars League yesterday.The Blue Waves have just one point to show for their efforts this season, yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at the hands of former champions Al Gharafa adding to their misery as the competition gets tougher by the day.Gharafa, who held Al Sadd to a thrilling 3-3 draw last week, put on a solid performance yesterday with Krisztián Németh and Vladimir Weiss on target in the second half.It was Gharafa who always looked likely to score. In the 24th minute, Rashid Sumaila made a defence splitting pass to Johnson Kendrick who was one on one with the keeper but shot the ball straight at the Wakrah keeper, Mohammed Enyass, who slid in to make the save.Al Wakrah striker Pablo Zeballos also had a shot on target in the first half as his header from a Mouhcine Moutouali cross went straight into the hands of the keeper. The first half ended scoreless with both sides level pegging with Al Gharafa having four shots on target while Al Wakrah only one.In the 49th minute, Nemeth passed the ball to an unmarked Weiss inside the Al Wakrah box, but the Slovakian international sent his effort well over the bar. Al Gharafa’s persistence finally paid off in the 62nd minute when Hungarian international Németh scored his third goal of the season to give the Cheetahs the lead.The goal was a result of quick combination play as Abdulghani Muneer from the right flank passed to Othman Yahri who pulled it back to Nemeth who guided the ball into the far bottom corner.In stoppage time Al Gharafa doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Al Wakrah’s defender Mohamed Aarafa fouled Kooky Han in the box by tripping him from behind. As a result, Aarafa was sent off and Gharafa were awarded a penalty. Weiss stepped up for the spot-kick and slotted it to the bottom right corner sending the keeper the other way to end the match at 2-0.Meanwhile, Umm Salal registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat at Al Khor stadium. A brace from returning striker Yannick Sagbo gave Bülent Uygun’s side a second victory of the season against a Kharaitiyat side who failed to create many clear cut chances in the game. Visitors Umm Salal created the first chance of note on the fifth minute. Attacker Ismael Mohamed cut in from the right wing and his shot brought a good save from Kharitiyat keeper Ahmed Soufiane.Al Kharaitiyat slowly found their way into the tie and registered their first chance fifteen minutes on the clock. Striker Lassina Diaby smacked a shot from outside the penalty box, but Umm Salal stopper Baba Malick was equal to the effort. With 21 minutes on the clock a rash effort from Alef Santos blazed well over the bar. Umm Salal started to dominate possession and could have had the lead on the 24th minute. Abdulaziz al-Yahri was slipped through and the young midfielder rounded keeper Ahmed Soufiane with the goal at his mercy. Fortunately for The Thunders defender Mohamed Abdurahman was on hand to clear the ball from the goal line.  The first half was a tame affair, with Umm Salal dominating the ball, yet unable to be clinical when it mattered. Both sides walked off with honours even at 0-0.  Ulyent Bugen’s side, however, made a dream start in the second half taking the lead on the 47th minute. A fine cross Abdulaziz al-Yahri was not dealt by Kharitiyat defender Domigos, and a returning Yannack Sagbo pounced at the back post, producing a composed finish to give his side a deserved lead. Umm Salal began to exert their dominance and could of doubled their advantage had Hilal Mohamed’s efforts found their mark. The first of which was a thunderous strike from outside the box which rocked the crossbar, while the second chance was saved by Ahmed Soufiane. Reduced to pot shots, Amir Osim’s side were kept at arm’s length by the robust Umm Salal defence. The closest they came to equalising was in the 59th minute. However, midfielder Abdulhadi Nuaman’s shot was no match for Baba Malick in the Umm Salal goal. In second half stoppage time Umm Salal doubled their advantage from the penalty spot. Thunders defender Mohamed Abdurahman was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.Ivorian striker Yannick Sagbo stepped up and blasted his penalty into the goal for his second goal of the evening to confirm all three points of Umm Salal. The second win of the season propels Umm Salal into fifth place in the QSL standings with nine points from five games.