Al Sadd moved four points clear at the top of the Qatar Stars League after a comfortable 3-1 win over Al Wakrah, while title rivals Al Gharafa slipped to a 0-1 defeat against Al Shamal yesterday.
With six matches remaining in the season, defending champions Sadd are on 35 points, with Shamal leapfrogging Gharafa into second place on goal difference as both teams sit on 31 points.
At the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium, Sadd went ahead in the ninth minute through Pedro Miguel, before former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino doubled the lead at the stroke of half-time. Rafa Mujica secured Sadd’s third in the 57th minute, while Amin Zahzouh added a consolation goal for Wakrah, who remain seventh in the table with 22 points.
Wakrah were resolute early on but failed to capitalise on several promising chances.
Sadd opened the scoring as Miguel nodded in from close range following a Tarek Salman header during a goalmouth scramble.
Just before the break, the lead was doubled when an overlapping Firmino latched onto a fine Giovani Henrique pass to score from the right.
Mujica added the third goal, flicking in Henrique’s assist as the ball struck the crossbar before crossing the line. Moroccan forward Zahzouh pulled one back for Wakrah, beating Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham with a header at the left post.
At the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Mohamed Rafik Omar’s 68th-minute strike proved decisive for Shamal against Gharafa, whose title hopes appear to be fading after a third consecutive league defeat.
Shamal held on for victory despite finishing with ten players after striker and captain Baghdad Bounedjah was sent off in the 73rd minute following a second yellow card.
Meanwhile at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan edged past Al Ahli thanks to Rodrigo’s 91th-minute winner.
Rayyan had fought back from a goal down, with Aleksandar Mitrovic cancelling out Erik Exposito’s 29th-minute strike for Ahli in the 82nd minute. The result lifted Al Rayyan to 28 points in fourth place, while Al Ahli remained on 15 points in tenth position.