Two goals in the second half powered visitors Qatar SC to a 2-0 win over Al Khor in Week 20 of the QNB Stars League yesterday.
An easy penalty by Bruno Gallo (48th minute) and a slick finish by Osama Omari (58th) saw Qatar SC home at the Al Khor Stadium. It was Qatar SC’s sixth win of the season.
The first 20 minutes of the clash saw Qatar SC have ball possession 55 per cent to put pressure on their rivals, but it was the referee who was seen cautioning players against reckless tackles. In the 18th minute, Gallo stepped on the foot of Soroush Hossein who had his right ankle heavily strapped. The foul caused a long stoppage in play. Close to the half-hour mark, referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim even cautioned Al Khor coach Nassif al-Bayawi for gesturing towards match officials.
Mohammad Jassimi of Qatar SC launched a powerful shot close to the Al Khor box, but the ball sailed just above the crossbar in the 35th minute.
Five minutes later, Qatar SC’s Under-23 player Omar al-Emadi unleashed a right-footed drive that also sailed past the Al Khor goalpost as the visitors continued to dominate play.
In probably their most dangerous move on Qatar SC in the first half, Al Khor’s Ariel Thierry picked up a loose ball inside the box and clipped a curling shot towards the goal, but goalkeeper Jassim al-Hail flicked the ball away just two minutes before the first-half whistle.
Despite a goalless first half, Qatar SC kicked off proceedings with a quick goal early in the second. Gallo easily converted a penalty in the 48th minute after Al Khor’s Reza Najaf was booked with a yellow for a reckless tackle in his own box. In the 55th minute, Al Khor’s Hossein produced a snap-header, but his deflection missed the target narrowly.
Three minutes later, Qatar SC doubled their lead when Omari dribbled past two defenders before easily beating Al Khor keeper for his side’s second goal.