QSL
The 2020-21 season QNB Stars League’s Week 14 matches, played on Tuesday and Wednesday (12th and 13th January, 2021), saw thrilling contests. As many as 14 goals were scored and two matches ended in draws.
The results were:
Al Rayyan beat Qatar SC 2-1
Al Sadd beat Al Duhail 3-1
Al Sailiya beat Al Kharaitiyat 2-0
Umm Salal drew Al Wakrah 0-0
Al Gharafa drew Al Arabi 1-1
Al Khor beat Al Ahli 2-1
Al Sadd defeated Al Duhail 3-1, the same margin with which the former won their first-leg encounter, in a humdinger of a game. The Wolves thus widened their gap on top of the table with holders and second-placed team Al Duhail from eight to 11 points to stay strongly on course for the title.
Al Sadd and Al Duhail have 38 and 27 points respectively.
Ace Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah struck a hat-trick in Al Sadd’s crucial victory after Qatar international striker Almoez Ali had put Al Duhail ahead.
Al Rayyan improved from sixth to fifth place with a 2-1 win over Qatar SC, with Yohan Boli and Shojae Khalilzadeh scoring for the former and Youcef Belaili finding the target for the latter.
Al Rayyan and Al Ahli both have 22 points, but the former are placed ahead on better goal difference +3 as against Al Ahli’s -5.
Al Gharafa climbed from fourth to third position with 24 points after they played out a 1-1 draw with Al Arabi in another exciting match.
Mehdi Torabi had given Al Arabi the lead early in the game and it took a last-gasp penalty conversion by Jonathan Kodjia for Al Gharafa to draw level.
Al Gharafa and Al Arabi, who stood seventh in the table, are now on 24 and 19 points respectively.
Abdulqadir Ilyas and Mohanad Ali were the goal heroes for Al Sailiya in their 2-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat as The Peregrines raised their score to 18 points and kept the eighth place. Al Kharaitiyat remained bottom of the table with six points.
Al Khor recorded a 2-1 victory over Al Ahli, but stayed in the 11th position with 10 points.
Giannis Fetfatzidid scored Al Khor’s both goals, while Al Ahli pulled one back in the form of an own goal by Al Khor defender Rafael Dos Santos.
Umm Salal and Al Wakrah played out a goalless draw in other action to remain in the ninth and 10th spot respectively. Both sides have 14 points, but Umm Salal are ahead on better goal difference (-8 compared to Al Wakrah’s -11).