Al Wakrah continued their winning run by prevailing 1-0 over Qatar SC in Week 8 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Friday.

Egyptian midfielder Hamdi Fathi struck the winner for Al Wakrah in the 37th minute.

Al Wakrah moved on to 17 points, while Qatar SC stood on eight points.

Qatar SC, however, could well have forced a drawn result, but a Badr Benoun penalty strike in the 89th minute hit the crossbar and fell out allowing The Blue Wave to escape with the narrow-margin victory.

Qatar SC had begun sprightly against a full-strength Al Wakrah, but lacked a good finish despite several raids at the rival citadel.

In the very second minute of play, Javi Martinez put in a through ball, but Bashar Rasan was caught offside.

The Kings continued to press ahead and, in the 19th minute, Congolese Ben Malango made a powerful hit from just outside the box, but his shot missed the top left corner of the goal.

Minutes later, Qatar SC’s Angolan star Jacinto Dala’s close left-foot strike also missed to the right.

The contest became intense and soon players of either side picked up niggles resulting in some delays.

In the 32nd minute, Yousef Mohammed of Qatar SC attempted another long-ranger from a pass by Bruno Tabata, but the shot went too high.

With Qatar SC’s raids lacking in any concerted finish, Al Wakrah began making their moves and succeeded soon as Dala set the tone for a free-flowing action running down a through ball to Ali Awad from 15 yards outside right of the box. Ali Awad then made a cross which was cut off by a defender, but Hamdi Fathi lunged to grab the chance from the top of the D and he unleashed a drive into the left corner of the net.

Al Wakrah then looked to double the advantage, but minutes later a potential Mohamed Benyettou strike from the centre of the ‘D’ missed to the left.

Qatar SC retaliated with a counterattack and were in the striking range, but Malango faltered again, shooting far too right.

Early in the second half too, Qatar SC’s efforts went in vain as a threatening Malango shot was well-blocked by Al Wakrah goalkeeper Saoud Al Khater, who gave a good account of his work all through the game.

Another of Qatar SC’s valuable chance came in the 77th minute, but a high-rising Malango’s strong header missed the target to the left.

All the hard work of Qatar SC seemed to have fetched them a lifeline when Al Wakrah’s Australian pro Traint Saintsbury pushed and felled a charging Sebastian Soria inside the danger area. After a VAR check, the referee called for a spot kick, but then Benoun’s kick rose just a wee bit over to hit the crossbar to dash his team’s hopes of an equalizer.