Abderrazzaq Hamdalla scored a hat-trick as Al Rayyan eased past Al Markhiya 5-2 to consolidate their position in Group B after the third round of the QSL Cup yesterday.
In two other matches in Group B, Umm Salal edged Al Sadd 2-1 and Al Ahli beat Al Arabi 3-2.
Al Rayyan now have nine points from three matches with an all-win record, having beaten Al Ahli and Al Sadd earlier.
The tournament resumed yesterday as the QNB Stars League is taking a two-week international break during which three friendlies will be played in Qatar, involving the hosts, Iceland and the Czech Republic.
Although the QSL Cup is a tournament mainly to give the juniors some experience, Al Rayyan fielded veteran Rodrigo Tabata and the prolific Hamdalla who has been making waves in the QNB Stars League.
Yesterday, Hamdalla struck in the 33rd and 39th minutes before claiming his hat-trick with a second-half injury-time goal to seal Al Rayyan’s victory.
Earlier, Parou Sadeeqi had given Al Rayyan an eighth minute lead before Hamdalla went on the rampage. Al Rayyan talisman Tabata also registered on the score sheet by converting from the spot in the 80th minute.
Al Markhiya ensured it was not a complete whitewash with Saleh al-Yazidi (49) and Anas Mubarak finding the target.
In another match, Umm Salal upset Al Sadd with Mahir Yousuf grabbing a second-half brace.
After a goalless first session, he scored in the very first minute after resumption and then helped his team clinch victory with a 90th minute strike after Al Sadd had equalised through Jassim al-Shammari in the 77th.
Al Ahli, meanwhile shocked Al Arabi 3-2 with Khalil Sharif scoring twice in a span of two minutes in the second half.
His goals in the 55th and 57th minutes helped Al Ahli equalise after Ahmad Salah and Abdulrahman Mansour had put Al Arabi 2-0 up in the first session.
Colombian Cristian Nazarit then struck in the 83rd minute to clinch victory for Al Ahli.