Umm Salal rallied to upstage Muaither 3-1 in Week 8 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium of Al Ahli club on Thursday.

While Ramon Arias had put Muaither in the lead in the 30th minute, Andy Delort stole the show for Umm Salal in the second session by striking in the 57th minute, 75th-minute penalty and 80th minute.

Their third win of the league took Umm Salal’s tally to 11 points, whereas Muaither remained on four points.

Muaither had begun the match on a strong note, with their Romanian forward Denis Alibec launching himself into attack straightaway but with no luck. The first move was in the eighth minute when Alibec’s left-footed shot from more than 35 yards went close, but missed to the right. Next in the 14th minute, his kick from outside the box was well saved in the left corner by Umm Salal’s goalkeeper Landing Badji.

Muaither persisted and, in the 25th minute, Abdulghani Munir hit one from a long-range into the top left corner, but it was also cut off. A minute later, Ramon Arias headed from the centre of the box, off a cross from Ayman El Hassouni, but that too missed to the right.

This was followed by a Jamal Hamed kick from the right, but it was blocked by Umm Salal’s Badji.

Mauither eventually succeeded as Arias produced a fine header off a corner kick by Muneer. The ball flew over the heads of two leaping Muaither players, but Arais near the right post judged perfectly, despite being marked, to score.

Umm Salal returned recharged post the half time break to turn the tables on Muaither. The Orange Fortress soon got the equalizer as Delort, stationed left inside the box, collected an assist from Hossam Kamal to make a superb header that went into the right corner of the goal.

A rattled Muaither were then hit with more as Mamadou Traore drew a foul, felling Delort inside the danger area. The referee after a close VAR check called for a penalty. The burly Delort struck powerfully and the ball thudded into the left of the net and Umm Salal celebrated their lead.

There was more delight, minutes after, as substitute Ilyes Brimil put a through ball from the right for Oussama Tannane to pick and pass on to Delort on the left just outside the box and he moved in to score his and his team’s third goal of the match.

Muaither tried hard in the remaining time, but their efforts were foiled by Umm Salal.