Al Ahli beat Al Rayyan 2-0 in Round 2 (Group A) of the 2021-2022 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Wednesday.

Goals from Mouz Gadelseed (12th minute) and Patrick Eze (57th minute) powered Al Ahli to a commanding win.

Al Ahli have four points now. On the other hand, Al Rayyan, playing their first match in the tournament, have yet to open their account.

The match got off to a fast-paced start, with both sides creating chances early. Al Rayyan’s Mubarak Eid Al Nasser blocked a shot by Al Ahli’s Al Dokali Al Sayed from close range with a sliding move that pushed the ball away in the eighth minute.

The first goal came when Mouz made the most of a keeper’s gaffe by Al Rayyan’s Saoud Al Hajri, who pushed a short cross to team-mate Yousef Fakharuddin on the edge of the box. Fakharuddin fumbled with the ball that was picked up by Abdulrahman Al Harazi, who spotted Mouz unmarked near the spot-kick area. After receiving a cross from Al Harazi, Mouz easily slotted the ball into the net to give Al Ahli the lead as Al Rayyan coach Laurent Blanc watched from the stands.

Five minutes later, Fakharuddin went solo with a longish run, but when he entered the Al Ahli box, his shot from close range was blocked by Al Ahli keeper Yazan Naim.

In the 32nd minute, Al Dokali broke into the Al Rayyan box, but his shot lacked pace to rattle the goalkeeper who pouched the low shot to kill the threatening move.

A couple of minutes later, Eze also flicked one from close range, but Al Rayyan’s Mubarak Eid Al Nasser blocked the shot with a header of his own.

In the 57th minute, Al Rayyan’s Moameen Mutasem, with ball in his possession, showed lack of experience as Al Ahli’s Serbian midfielder Marko Jevtovic produced a sliding tackle to flick the ball to an unmarked Eze. The Nigerian forward wasted little time in drilling a shot past the outstretched left hand of Al Hajri.

In the 83rd minute, Eze attempted a back-flick on a loopy corner kick. The ball took the deflection and hit the far post with Al Rayyan keeper and backline all beaten.