Al Sailiya defeated Qatar SC 1-0, courtesy of an own goal by Elmehdi Barrahma in the 84th minute, as they moved to 20 points in the QNB Stars League yesterday. Qatar SC remained on 16 points.
It was Al Sailiya’s sixth victory, whereas Qatar SC crashed to their seventh defeat. Possession was almost even in the first half, where both teams had their chances. Ali Jasemi sending a powerful angular shot against the bar was the closest occasion Al Sailiya came to scoring.
Qatar SC’s Eisa Ahmed hit wide and Sardor Rashidov’s shot was collected by goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker before the Al Sailiya goal had a close call when defender Serigne Mbodji delayed clearing the ball. Action got hotter as the game wore on.
Al Sailiya striker Abdulqadir Ilyas came off the bench after an injury layoff. The Peregrines brought in Meshaal Qassim as well, while Qatar SC introduced Abdenasser Elkhayati.
After Mbodji narrowly headed over the bar in the 74th minute and Qatar SC’s Kayke Rodriguez hit his shot against the right upright, the breakthrough came for Al Sailiya. Ilyas headed a free-kick by Mbark Boussoufa goalwards and Barrahma accidentally nodded the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear the ball. The result was a blow to Qatar SC, who had remained unbeaten ever since the start of second leg of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Al Sailiya heaved a sigh of relief as they were on a losing streak in the second leg.
They had also lost their 2020 AFC Champions League play-off to Iran’s Shahr Kodro, thus failing to book a berth in the tournament proper. Al Sailiya had beaten Qatar SC by a similar margin in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.