Reigning champions Al Duhail and table toppers Al Sadd locked in an electrifying 2-2 draw in their QNB Stars League Week 20 heavyweight clash yesterday.
Moroccan striker Yousef El Arabi, the top-scorer in Qatar for the last two seasons, struck both the goals for Al Duhail in the 75th and 85th minutes.
The second goal came off a penalty kick, awarded by referee Abdulrahman al-Jassim after Hamed Ismail fouled substitute Ali Afif.
Ace Algerian striker and tournament top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah had put Al Sadd ahead by scoring in the 26th minute. The Wolves were helped by an own goal by substitute Murad Naji at the stroke of final whistle (90+5).
Al Sadd and Al Duhail now have 51 and 47 points respectively.
Al Sadd would have been crowned as champions had they won the match. On the other hand, Al Duhail needed only a draw to stay in the title race.
Al Sadd, captained by Xavi Hernandez, could have been in the lead in the 14th minute had Akram Afif not been thwarted from the spot by Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine Lecomte.
The penalty came as a result of a foul by Mohamed Moosa on Bounedjah.
The Red Knights could have equalised in the 45th minute had Japanese midfielder Shoya Nakajima’s chip shot after evading three defenders not hit against the crossbar.
The match, played at the Al Duhail Stadium in front of 6,337 spectators, had all the ingredients of a thriller.
Al Sadd called the shots early on, but Al Duhail grew into the game as it wore on.
If Al Sadd beat Al Ahli in Week 21 on April 4, they will become the 2018-19 QNB Stars League champions irrespective of Al Duhail’s result.
Ahli beat Arabi 2-1
Al Ahli themselves registered a 2-1 win over Al Arabi at home yesterday.
Al Ahli, with their 10th victory, raised their points tally to 33, whereas Al Arabi remained on 27.
Meshaal Abdullah (24th minute) and Mohamed al-Bayati (86th) scored for Al Ahli. For Al Arabi, Victor Vazquez netted a goal in the 61st minute.
The match was dubbed Hilal Derby because both clubs are located in the area.
Al Ahli went into the match on the back of a goalless draw with Al Shahania, while Al Arabi had lost 1-2 to Al Gharafa in Week 19.
It was a consolation for Al Ahli, who had been going through a lean patch of late under Spanish coach Ruben de la Barrera, who replaced Czech Milan Macala during the winter break.
Al Arabi, coached by Heimir Hallgrimsson from Iceland, thus suffered their 11th defeat. Al Ahli had defeated Al Arabi 3-0 in the first leg.
Rayyan blow lead in Gharafa loss
At the Duhail stadium, Al Gharafa defeated Al Rayyan 4-2.
Vladimir Weiss (22nd and 78th-min penalty), Mehdi Taremi (28th), Lucas Mendes (56th) scored the goals for Al Gharafa, while Rodrigo Tabata (15th-min penalty) and Gelmin Rivas (38th) found the mark for Al Rayyan.
Al Rayyan had themselves to blame as they conceded the lead and initiative. It was a blow to The Lions’ bid to stay in the third position.
Al Rayyan stayed on 33 points, while Al Gharafa moved to 25 points.
It was The Cheetahs seventh victory, whereas Al Rayyan crashed to their fifth defeat. Al Rayyan dominated the proceedings early, but Al Gharafa settled into their stride slowly.
Al Gharafa earned a penalty in the seventh minute, but they missed it. Abdelaziz Hatem touched the ball from the spot for Taremi to slot home the penalty, but the Iranian striker fumbled with it. Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa had played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Al Duhail’s Yousef El Arabi (left) celebrates his goal with teammates during their QNB Stars League match at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed, Anas Khalid
