Title contenders Al Rayyan suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Al Khor in week 8 of the QNB Stars League yesterday. Brazilian Wagner Ferreira scored the winner in the 90th minute as the home team picked up three points.
In an enterprising first 10 minutes, Al Rayyan stitched a few threatening moves, but on every occasion Al Khor defended well to block captain Rodrigo Tabata and Sebastian Soria.
On one occasion, Tabata broke free of his marker, but his effort was quickly waved off as off-side by the linesman.
Four minutes later, Ahmed Yasin of Al Khor attempted a low shot at the Al Rayyan goal from close range, but Mohammed Juma, patrolling the backline, blocked the shot.
A few seconds later, Al Khor striker Diogo Da Silva missed one of the easiest chances at the fag end of an indirect free-kick. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Diogo shot wide of the mark from inside the Al Rayyan box with keeper Barry beaten by the shot. At the half-hour mark, Tabata curled in a beautifully-taken direct free-kick, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
Close to the hour mark, Al Rayyan’s Lucca curled in a powerful shot from outside the Al Khor box, but keeper Mohamed Ahmed Al Bakr palmed the ball away to kill the move.
Things changed in the last minute when Wagner produced the late stunner.
Substitute Adel Ahmad picked up Wagner with a cross inside the Al Khor box. Wagner, despite being marked by Ali Sanad al-Nuaimi, managed to shoot to the left of Al Rayyan goalkeeper Omar Barry. The ball hit the net after slipping through the outstretched hand of Barry.
Al Rayyan stay fourth on 14 points despite the loss, while Al Khor are 11th, yesterday’s win being their first in seven matches.
In the second match of the day, Al Ahli defeated Al Shahania 2-1, with Mohsin Moutouali and Mohamed Muntari netting for the winners.
Moutouali put Al Ahli ahead in the 13th minute, while Muntari consolidated in the 72nd. Luciano Vasquez pulled one back for Al Shahania in the 79th.
Al Ahli have six points, while Shahania have seven.