Rayyan deservedly crowned QSL champions.

Finally, after talking about the quality of Al Rayyan for the whole of the 2015/2016 season, the Lions got their hands on the coveted QSL falcon shied. Jorge Fossati’s side did it in some style comprehensively beating Al Wakrah 5-0 last Saturday evening at Al Sadd stadium.

Thousands of passionate Al Rayyan fans joined the team in celebrating the trophy win for the first time since the 1994/1995 season. Afterwards the squad toured around Doha in an open-top bus and reveled in their first falcon shield. Rayyan have broken records seemingly on a weekly basis this season, and you can checkout 10 key stats behind Rayyan’s dominance here.

Al Rayyan will now have to focus up for the remainder of the domestic season, and prepare themselves for the Qatar & Emir cup competitions.


 
Al Khor take a big leap to QSL safety.

Al Khor’s round 21 clash against Qatar SC was billed as a relegation six pointer for both sides. Two seasoned coaches in Jean Fernandez and Sebastaio Lazaroni faced off in an interesting tactical contest. However it was Al Khor who ran out deserved winners with a 3-1 victory. Three goals in the first half from Brazilian trio Julio Cesar, Marco Antonio & Madson were enough for the knights to seal all three points.

The vital win did come at a cost for Khor, as it was confirmed that striker Julio Cesar could be out for the next few weeks with a hamstring strain. However this vital win has lifted the men from up north to ninth place in the QSL standings and importantly five points away from the drop-zone.


 
Bagdad Debut for Sadd.

Al Sadd fans where given a big boost on Monday evening, when winter signing Bagdad Bounjah made his long awaited debut for the Wolves. The Algerian international has been out of action for nearly 4 months with an injury, so coming on for the final twenty minutes is a major lift for Jesaldo Ferrerias side.

Bounjah could not help his side register the win, after drawing 1-1 with Al Gharafa. However his timely return means that Al Sadd has some extra fire-power going into the last games of the season, along with the Qatar & Emir cup competitions.  


 
 
First point of the year for Meisameer.

QSL’s bottom side registered a moral boosting point against El Jaish in round 21. The flames have been rooted to the bottom of the league all season, and are set to be relegated to the Qatar Gas League. Many people wouldn’t have given them much of a chance on Sunday evening when they faced high-flying El Jaish, fresh from a big win in the AFC champions league.

However Rodion Gacanin’s side came from behind and equalized through a cheeky chipped penalty from midfielder Wajdi Bouazzi. Afterwards El Jaish pushed hard for a winner with Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah missing a host of chances. Yet Meisameer where not be denied their point with keeper Mohammed Ghanem pulling of a host of saves to give the Flames their first point of 2016.


 
Race for the Qatar cup is still on.

The battle for the top four places is heating up in the QSL. Al Sadd currently occupies the fourth place and have a four point cushion over Umm Salal, after a 1-1 draw with Al Gharafa.

Despite this the chasing teams of Umm Salal & Sailiya enjoyed positive results in round 21.
Umm Salal came from behind to secure a vital point against Lekhwiya. Ismael Mahmoud’s 79^th minute equalizer was the Orange Fortress’s eleventh draw of the season, whilst Sailiya ran out 2-1 winners against Al Ahli.
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Both sides will be hoping that Sadd will slip up in the next few weeks to set up a grandstand finsh in the race to the Qatar Cup places.


 

Got any  feedback from the last round of the QSL? Feel free to send any suggestions or comments to: [email protected]