Al Duhail beat Al Arabi 3-2 in Round 2, Group B of the 2022-2023 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Monday.

Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga continued from where he left off in their Round 1 match against Al Markhiya, where he scored a hat-trick in their 8-3 victory. The Kenyan striker did an encore this time by scoring The Red Knights’ all three goals (second, 61st and 70th minutes).

Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (53rd minute) and Hamed Ismail (85th-minute penalty) scored for Al Arabi.

Al Duhail thus moved on to six points, while Al Arabi stood on three points from their 1-0 victory over Al Shamal in Round 1.

Al Markhiya, Al Shamal, Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan are the other teams in Group B.

Group A consists of Al Sadd, Al Wakrah, Umm Salal, Al Ahli, Qatar SC and Al Sailiya.

It was an encounter between teams who are in the top rung of 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League, which has taken a break.

While Al Arabi are topping the league table with 16 points, Al Duhail are third with 14 points after seven weeks of action.

Interestingly, Al Duhail had prevailed over Al Arabi in the league championship 3-0 and it has been the only loss of the season so far for Younes Ali’s wards.

Olunga started the scoring act as early as the second minute.

Al Arabi tried to hit back and Abdullah Al Muraisi’s shot in the 16th minute got deflected out.

Al Arabi’s Rafael Alcantara made an unsuccessful attempt in the 19th minute and Al Muraisi’s rising shot in the last minute of first half flew over as Al Arabi trailed by a goal at half-time.

The Dream Team, however, equalized not long after resumption through Ibrahim Nasser. But that was all they could do as Olunga struck twice more for The Red Knights, coached by Hernan Crespo.

A late goal scored by Hamed Ismail from the penalty spot did not help them stop their rivals from sealing the issue.

Al Arabi’s Rami Suhail soon had a chance to help his team draw level, but he sent a feeble shot straight to goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy.