Arabi secure points against Al Kharaitiyat

Two first half goals by Al Arabi took them past Al Kharaitiyat in their Round 16 match of the Qatar Stars League yesterday. Arabi won 2-1 at home.Al Arabi opened the scoring early in the first half with a goal in the eleventh minute, courtesy Wagner Ribero. Omar al-Emadi back-flicked Imoh Ezekiel’s cross and his effort came off the post into Wagner’s path, who volleyed the ball into the goal from close range to give his side the lead.The Dream Team then doubled their advantage in the 34th minute. Captain Boualem Khoukhi got his name on the scoresheet with a well-placed free kick, which went low into the bottom left corner to make 2-0 for the home team.Shortly after the second goal, Kharaitiyat had a chance to score but Anwar Diba’s shot was saved by Masoud Zarei in goal. Later on, in the first half, Ahmed Ajlani’s men reduced the deficit with a spectacular goal from Anwar Diba. The Moroccan playmaker scored directly from a corner kick in the forty-first minute to make it 2-1.In the second half, there were no goals as Kharaitiyat upped the pressure while Al Arabi looked to protect their lead. In the 56th minute, an Ahmed Sufyan effort was denied by the Kharaitiyat crossbar.The game ended 2-1 in favour of Edison Aguirre’s men, who now have 19 points, while Kharaitiyat remain in ninth position with 15 points to their name.