Umm Salal too strong for Al Kharaitiyat

Umm Salal registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat on Thursday evening at Al Khor stadium. A brace from returning striker Yannick Sagbo gave Bülent Uygun’s side a second victory of the season against a Kharaitiyat side who failed to create many clear cut chances in the game. 

The visitors Umm Salal created the first chance of note on the fifth minute. Attacker Ismael Mohammed cut in from the right wing and his shot brought a good save from Kharitiyat keeper Ahmed Soufiane.

Al Kharitiyat slowly found their way into the tie and registered their first chance fifteen minutes on the clock. Striker Lassina Diaby smacked a shot from outside the penalty box, however Umm Salal stopper Baba Malick was equal to the effort. With twenty one minutes on the clock a rash effort from Alef Santos, blazed well over the bar. Certainly summed up the early efforts of Umm Salal.

Umm Salal started to dominate possession and could have had the lead on the twenty fourth minute. Abdulaziz Al-Yahri was slipped though and the young midfielder rounded keeper Ahmed Soufiane with the goal at his mercy. Fortunately for The Thunders defender Mohammed Abdurahman was on hand to clear the ball from the goal line. 

In truth the first half was a tame affair, with the visitors Umm Salal dominating the ball, yet where unable to be clinical when it mattered. Both sides walked off with honours even at 0-0. Ulyent Bugen’s side made a dream start in the second half taking the lead on the 47th minute. 

A fine cross Abdulaziz Al-Yahri was not dealt by Kharitiyat defender Domigos, and a returning Yannack Sagbo pounced at the back post,  producing a composed finish to give his side a deserved lead. 

Umm Salal began to exert their dominance and could of doubled their advantage had Hilal Mohammed’s efforts found their mark. The first of which was a thunderous strike from outside the box which rocked the crossbar. Whilst the second chance, again a shot from distance was saved by Ahmed Soufiane. 

Reduced  to pot shots, Amir Osim’s side were kept at arms length by the robust Umm Salal defence. The closest they came to equalising came on the 59th minute. However midfielder Abdulhadi Nuaman’s drive from distance was no match for Baba Malick in the Umm Salal goal. 

In second half stoppage time Umm Salal doubled their advantage from the penalty spot.Thunders defender Mohammed Abdurahman was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.

Ivorian striker Yannick Sagbo stepped up and blasted his penalty into the goal for his second goal of the evening to confirm all three points of Umm Salal. The second win of the season propels Umm Salal into fifth place in the QSL standings with nine points from five games.