The QSL title race may be over but the battle to finish the season as top scorer is well and truly on.
 
Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata currently leads the way on 18 goals, two clear of El Jaish marksman Abderrazak Hamdallah and Al Wakrah’s Sebastian Saez. Veteran Qatari striker Meshaal Abdulla, of Al Ahli, is currently fourth in the standings on 15 goals.
 
Here we take a look at the QSL’s leading marksmen in the 2015-16 season and assess their most impressive scoring performances during the campaign.
 
Rodrigo Tabata (Al Rayyan)
 
Games: 20
Goals: 18 (four penalties)
 
After playing an instrumental role in Al Rayyan’s title-winning season, Rodrigo Tabata is all-but assured of being named QSL player of the year.
 
However, the 35-year-old has a battle on his hands to claim the top scorer’s award. Despite hitting the back of the net 18 times, Tabata is only two goals ahead of the pack.
 
Being in the twilight of his career clearly matters little to Tabata, who has been inspired for the Lions during their record-breaking campaign. Their captain and talisman has been the focal point of Rayyan’s attack and chipped in with numerous vital goals, including strikes in narrow victories against Al Kharaitiyat, Al Sailiya, El Jaish and Al Wakrah.
 
Tabata also grabbed a double in the early-season test against Al Arabi and hit four past Mesaimeer during Rayyan’s crushing 9-0 win in November.
 


​ Abderrazak Hamdallah (El Jaish)
 
Games: 19
Goals: 16 (three penalties)
 
Abderrazak Hamdallah has played a vital role for El Jaish during a season which could see the Soldiers claim their highest ever QSL finish.
 
Hamdallah’s hit 16 goals so far, including three penalties. The Moroccan has been helped by a strong forward line which includes Romarinho and Uzbekistan international Sardor Rashidov.
 
An impressive feature of Hamdallah’s goals tally is that he’s hit doubles against four top-half sides: Al Sailiya, Al Gharafa, Lekhwiya and Al Sadd. Even more impressive is that Jaish recorded victories in each of those games.
 
Hamdallah will be aiming to reach 20 goals in a season for the second time in his career after hitting the mark for Chinese Super League side Guangzhou in 2014.
 
As debut seasons go, Hamdallah’s has been excellent. And he’ll be hoping to top it off by finishing the campaign as the leading marksman.
 


Sebastian Saez (Al Wakrah)
 
Games: 22
Goals: 16 (five penalties)
 
Without the goals of Argentine star Sebastian Saez, Al Wakrah would probably have found themselves in the bottom two heading into the final four games.
 
As it is, the Blue Waves are five points clear of the drop zone and looking good for another season in the QSL.
 
Saez has been a consistent scorer for Wakrah since joining the club in 2013. He hit the back of the net 18 times in his first season, and followed that up with an 11-goal haul in 2014-15.
 
This season has seen Saez get back to the form he showed in his maiden year. The 31-year-old has hit five goals in two matches against Mesaimeer, including a hat-trick in their November clash. He’s also grabbed braces against Al Sailiya and Al Gharafa. Furthermore, Saez has scored in five of Wakrah’s eight victories this season, including a vital goal against Al Sadd.

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Meshaal Abdulla (Al Ahli)
 
Games: 22
Goals: 15 (six penalties)
 
Veteran Qatari striker Meshaal Abdulla has been enjoying the goal-scoring season of his life with Al Ahli.
 
The 31-year-old has hit the back of the net 15 times so far, including doubles against Al Wakrah, Al Khor and Umm Salal.
 
And it’s fair to say that without the form of Abdulla, Ahli would be closer to the bottom. As it is they’re currently four points clear of Qatar Sports Club and will be confident of retaining their QSL status.
 
Perhaps Abdulla’s most important goals have come against Umm Salal. He scored twice against the Orange Fortress in Ahli’s most recent victory to push them away from the bottom two.
 
This season is Abdulla’s most prolific ever in the QSL and he’ll be aiming to finish it in style by overhauling Tabata at the top of the goal-scoring chart.

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