Al Duhail battled to beat Umm Salal 2-1 in Week 20 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Duhail Stadium on Saturday.

The thrilling win also saw Al Duhail keep up their run at the top of the league standings, moving to 48 points from 20 matches, while Umm Salal remained on 16 points.

The gripping match produced two back-to-back goals for both teams in added time of the opening half before Al Duhail added the winner in the second session to seal the deal.

Al Duhail’s star striker Michael Olunga struck twice (45+3 penalty and 64th minute) to dazzle for The Red Knights, while Adil Rhaili scored for Umm Salal in 45+6 minute.

Umm Salal produced a challenging show and kept Al Duhail on their toes, attacking hard in most part of the first half. Abulrahmman Fayez Al Rashidi led the charge for The Orange Fortress, but his strike in the 39th minute failed to beat Al Duhail goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy.

The very next minute, Al Rashidi had another chance following a fast-paced action in front of the goal, but he shot wide.

Both sides attacked hard towards the close of the first half juggling for space in the danger area and in a tussle Umm Salal’s Rhaili brought down Al Duhail’s Ferjani Sassi to be flashed with a yellow card.

The referee then signalled for the penalty following a VAR review and Olunga scored from the spot.

Umm Salal, however, hit back within minutes and through Rhaili who leapt high to make a perfect header following a corner kick action.

Both teams resumed exciting action with attacking play. In the 51st minute, Umm Salal’s Aleksa Vukanovic made a strong deflection off a good cross, but the ball was parried away by a diving Ellethy.

Soon, Al Duhail raised the tempo looking to create gaps and also went for some long-rangers. It was a long-range left-footer of Almoez Ali which Umm Salal custodian Khalifa Ababacar could not hold on to and the ball rolled on for an onrushing Olunga to coolly score his team’s second goal.

Al Duhail are now five points clear of second-placed Al Arabi (43 points) and seven points ahead of defending champions Al Sadd, who have 41 points.