QSL
Al Arabi beat Al Shamal 1-0 in Week 14 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium on Wednesday.
The winning goal for Al Arabi was spectacularly produced by their star Omar Al Somah in the 59th minute of the match.
Al Somah collected a perfect pass from Helal Mohammed, sent from top left of the box, to essay a beautiful full-length left kick on a bouncing ball while being airborne, sending the team’s fans into raptures.
The victory consolidated Al Arabi’s position in the points table. The Dream Team continued to be second and now have 28 points from 13 matches, chasing leaders Al Duhail who are on 32 points.
The result left Al Shamal further jolted despite displaying a fighting game under their new coach Wesam Rizik. They remained on 10 points from 11 matches.
The opening half of the crucial clash was goalless, but Al Arabi had come close to striking in the 39th minute when Al Somah flipped a corner with the back of his heel kick, but an alert Al Shamal goalkeeper Babacar Seck dived to the right corner to make a valuable save.
Later in the 49th minute, Yacine Bammou made a run down the left to beat the onrushing goalkeeper and make a strike which hit the hand of a defender. But Al Shamal’s hopes of a spot kick were dashed as the player was ruled offside.
For Al Arabi, their forward Yousef Msakni, who battled a few rough tackles, too had some shots at the rival goal, but missed the target.
With Al Arabi holding on to their lead, Al Shamal tried hard and midway through the added stoppage time of six minutes had a chance, but it was shot wide.
Al Arabi had beaten Al Shamal by the same margin in the first leg of the league championship as well.