Al Sailiya held Al Rayyan to a thrilling 2-2 draw in Week 19 of the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium on Friday.

Interestingly all four goals came in the opening half of the match.

While Yohan Boli (fifth minute) and Abdulaziz Hatem (25th minute) scored the goals for Al Rayyan, Mohammed Diame (45+1) and Carlos Standberg (45+5 penalty) fetched the goals for Al Sailiya.

Ivory Coast star Boli began the proceedings for The Lions by scoring with a fine dipping header, off a long Sofiane Boufal cross, which went over the goalkeeper right in the centre of the goal.

Their second goal followed as Hatem picked on the ball after a move from the right. He collected it high and transferred it from his right foot to the left before sending in a telling diagonal kick into the right corner.

Having taken the substantial lead, Al Rayyan, however, failed to produce a good defence against the charging Peregrines.

Al Sailiya’s efforts bore fruits in the added time when a free-kick action resulted in two headed attempts when the tall Diame lunged in to essay a fine right-foot kick on the volley to score.

Minutes later, Al Sailiya benefited from a rival team foul as the referee called for a penalty following a VAR review. And their Swede star Strandberg scored coolly to draw parity at 2-2.

The second half failed to break the deadlock as both sides defended strongly and had to be content with a point each.

Al Rayyan are ninth in the league standings with 17 points from as many games, while Al Sailiya are 12th with 10 points from 19 matches.