Al Arabi defeated Al Rayyan 4-2 in Week 19 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium on Saturday.

Yousef Msakni (ninth and 63rd minutes), Aaron Boupendza (18th-minute penalty) and Aron Gunnarsson (34th minute) scored for Al Arabi.

Shojae Khalilzadeh (14th minute) and Naif Al Hadrami (48th minute) were Al Rayyan’s scorers.

The Dream Team now have 29 points after their ninth victory, whereas Al Rayyan stood on 18 points following their eighth defeat.

Cheered on by their passionate fans, both teams were off to a fast-paced start. Al Arabi were more aggressive and took the lead through Msakni, who unleashed an on-the-run shot following captain Abdullah Marafi’s cross off a fast break along the right.

Al Rayyan, playing their first league match under Chilean coach Nicolas Cordova, who replaced Frenchman Laurent Blanc, equalised through Shojae, who headed in James Rodriguez’s corner kick.

The game then became more intense and the sides traded attacks.

Al Arabi regained the lead when Boupendza converted a penalty awarded after he was fouled by Ahmed Yasser.

Al Rayyan could have drawn parity had Shojae’s placing shot off a Rodriguez free-kick not hit the right upright.

Meanwhile, Al Arabi struck for a third time as Gunnarsson’s long-range volley went in past goalkeeper Fahad Younes.

At the other end, Boupendza hit his shot against the horizontal.

Al Rayyan could reduce the margin to 3-2 not long after the resumption of play, but that was all they could do in terms of scoring.

Msakni made it a comfortable margin for Al Arabi with a header past the hour mark.

The Lions brought in striker Yohan Boli and Mohammed Juma in the 68th minute, but to no avail.

Msakni missed a sitter in the first of five-minute stoppage time by sending his shot against the horizontal.

In hindsight, Al Arabi players showed more cohesion and they reaped its reward, while Al Rayyan paid the price for defensive mistakes.

Al Arabi goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada deserved credit for thwarting rival attacks right throughout the game.

Al Arabi had beaten Al Rayyan 2-1 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League.

Al Rayyan have a game in hand as their Week 14 match (Qatar Clasico) against reigning champions Al Sadd was postponed.