All eyes were on Al Shahania after they pulled off a shocking 1-0 win over Al Sadd in the previous round of the Qatar Stars League but Luka Bonacic’s boys couldn’t continue in the same vein as they lost 0-1 to Al Sailiya.

Al Sailiya was coming off a confidence boosting 1-0 win over Al Arabi and were clearly looking to dominate the game. Sami Trabelsi’s boys have not had the best of times this season with just six wins so far.

But the teams are so closely stacked up in the middle of the table that just ten points separates Umm Salal in third place and Al Wakrah in 11th place. “This QSL season it’s easy to climb up the standings because there are almost 10 teams who are on the same level. There is not a big difference between these sides,” Trabelsi had said during the pre-match press conference and this win for Sailiya ensures that they are finally on the right path.

In the match Al Sailiya largely controlled the possession but they weren’t able to find the breakthrough they so desperately craved. The first half ended 0-0 and it was all to play for in the second half. But the major part of the second half saw a similar passage of play – Sailiya attacking and Shahania defending tooth and nail.

Al Sailiya finally were able to break the stranglehold late on in the 85th minute through Issam Jemaa and thereby secured the precious three points. Having had 63 per cent of possession it was a deserved victory for the Peregrines who are starting to show the form that saw them finish fourth last season.

As for Shahania, they and Al Shamal were the two teams that were promoted to the QSL this season. Shahania have done relatively better considering that they have won three games as compared to none by Shamal so far. But they are still in the relegation zone and need to come up with something special if they are to stay afloat this season.