Battle for the lead hots up between Al Duhail and Al Sadd; Al Arabi score valuable win over Al Sailiya

Al Sadd win the Qatar Clasico; Al Shamal, Al Wakrah achieve their first victory

Umm Salal continue to draw; Al Rayyan, Al Gharafa suffer first loss this season

Al Khor, Qatar SC, Al Rayyan, Al Ahli and Umm Salal still look for first victory

The Qatar Clasico between Al Rayyan and Al Sadd highlighted the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League’s Week 3 action, held on 21st and 22nd September. Only one of the six matches ended in a draw and a total of 19 goals were scored.

Al Sadd defeated Al Rayyan 4-2 in the Qatar Clasico and that was the highest-scoring match.

The results:

Al Shamal bt Qatar SC    2-1

Al Arabi bt Al Sailiya      1-0

Umm Salal drew Al Ahli 1-1

Al Duhail bt Al Gharafa  3-1

Al Rayyan lost to Al Sadd         4-2

Al Khor lost to Al Wakrah        1-2

The race on top of the standings hotted up between Al Duhail and reigning champions Al Sadd. Both are on nine points from three victories having an all-win record. Their goal difference is also same (+6), having scored nine goals and conceded three.

Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa crashed to their first defeat this season, while promoted side Al Shamal achieved their first victory.

Umm Salal recorded their third successive draw, while five teams – Al Khor, Qatar SC, Al Rayyan, Al Ahli and Umm Salal – are still searching for their first victory.

Meanwhile, Al Arabi registered a crucial victory over Al Sailiya.

In the opening match, Al Shamal succeeded in putting it across Qatar SC 2-1. Bahaa Faisal (25th-minute penalty) and Amjad Attwan (36th) scored the goals for Al Shamal, who produced a fighting performance. Djamel Benlamri scored for Qatar SC in the 81st minute.

Al Shamal moved to three points and are seventh in the table, whereas Qatar SC stood on one and are placed 11th.

Al Arabi achieved their second win by beating Al Sailiya, with Tunisian star Yousef Msakni netting the all-important goal in the 83rd minute.

Al Arabi are fourth in the standings with six points and Al Sailiya eighth with three points.

Umm Salal and Al Ahli played out a 1-1 draw, the former third consecutive draw and the latter’s second. Aymen Hussein scored as early as the third minute for Umm Salal. Substitute Patrick Eze equalized for Al Ahli in the 87th minute.

Umm Salal (sixth) and Al Ahli (ninth) now have three and two points respectively.

Al Duhail maintained their winning streak by beating Al Gharafa 3-1. Captain Almoez Ali (28th minute, penalty) and Abdelrahman Mohammed (54th and 67th minutes) powered Al Duhail to an impressive win. Ahmed Alaaeldin (59th minute, penalty) scored the only goal for Al Gharafa.

Al Gharafa are third with six points, the same as Al Arabi but ahead on goal difference.

Then came the much-awaited Al Rayyan vs Al Sadd Qatar Clasico played in front of a sizeable number of fans of both teams. Al Sadd won the game 4-2, while Al Rayyan stood on two points and are 10th in the QNB Stars League standings.

Al Sadd continued from where they left off last season when they won both legs of Qatar Clasico. Al Rayyan had won both legs of the clasico in the season before last.

This time around, Hassan Al Haydous (fourth minute), Baghdad Bounedjah (21st minute), Andre Ayew (24th minute) and Akram Afif (58th minute) found the net for Al Sadd. Hashem Ali (45+2) and Abdulaziz Hatem (49th minute) scored for Al Rayyan.

In the last match, Al Wakrah scored a 2-1 victory over Al Khor. Al Wakrah are fifth with four points and Al Khor bottom of the table with one point.

Mohamed Benyettou (24th minute) and Gelson Dalla (45+3) scored for Al Wakrah. Saeed Brahmi (90+3) pulled one back for Al Khor.

The 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League’s Week 4 matches will be played on 26th and 27th, September, 2021.

Sunday, 26th September, 2021

Al Duhail vs Al Sailiya

Al Sadd vs Al Shamal

Qatar SC vs Al Arabi

Monday, 27th September, 2021

Al Gharafa vs Umm Salal

Al Wakrah vs Al Ahli

Al Rayyan vs Al Khor