Al Ahli overcame a challenging Muaither 4-2 in a highly-entertaining Week 5 clash of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday.

It was also Al Ahli’s maiden win of the season, following four losses, and Muaither’s third defeat in five games.

Al Ahli led 2-0 at half-time and had another goal early in the second half to be up 3-0 before Muaither staged a superb comeback making it 3-2 and almost fetched an equalizer. A fine counter-attack goal towards the end saw The Brigadiers eventually put the issue beyond doubt.

Yazan Al Naimat (26th minute), Naim Sliti (30th minute), Robin Amin Tihi (56th minute) and Abdulrasheed Umaru (90+3 minute) scored for Al Ahli, while Denis Alibec (66th minute) and Ramon Gines (68th minute) scored for Muaither.

While the result did not go their way, Muaither showed superb skills and determination in their fight to match Al Ahli.

Muaither came close to making it 3-all in the 79th minute when Uruguayan defender Ramon Arias had a fine chance and had only the goalkeeper to beat from the right but, in the rush, he kicked the ball wide of the post.

Later in the 88th minute, Muaither midfielder Nassim Ben Aissa pulled up a muscle while taking a kick at the top of the box at a crucial juncture and had to be replaced.

With Muaither frantically searching for an equalizer, they hastened their efforts in added time and a quick clearance from their goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues saw Al Ahli seize the chance from near the midfield and strike as Naim Sliti moved in from the left, beat the goalkeeper and sent in a cross to Abdulrasheed Umaru to get their fourth goal.

Earlier, Gines had scored off a defender’s header on the volley, following a long kick into the box, to ignite the contest.

Muaither’s opening goal by Alibec too was electrifying as he shot from 20 yards outside the box and his powerful left-footed kick went in like a cannon-fire beating a diving Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim to his left.

Later in the 89th minute, however, Alibec’s another left-footed shot from outside the box just missed to the left, much to his own dismay.

In the opening half, Al Ahli’s start was both brisk and dynamic as Ali Qaderi initiated a fine move and their German recruit Julian Draxler moved in to provide Al Naimat with a perfect ball to score.

Al Ahli doubled the lead within minutes as Al Naimat, making a fast break, back-flipped a pass for an unmarked Naim Sliti to rush in and score gleefully.

Al Ahli’s third goal too was ‘dramatic’ as Tihi made a header off a free-kick from left and the ball flew to hit the bottom right post of the goal and ricochet in when Muaither’s Mamadou Traore cleared it, but clearly from inside the line of the goal. The referee confirmed with VAR before whistling to signal the goal.