Al Wakrah came back from a goal down to defeat Umm Salal 2-1 in Week 7 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Sunday.

Mohamed Benyettou twice scored from the spot (45+6 and 64th minutes) for the winners after Meshaal Al Shammari had given Umm Salal the lead in the 22nd minute.

With the result, Al Wakrah now have 14 points, while Umm Salal remained on eight.

Both teams approached the match cautiously and there were no clear chances in the first few minutes of the first half.

Al Shammari opened the scoring for Umm Salal with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner following a well-timed pass from Andy Delort, who wriggled his way past three of Al Wakrah’s defenders inside their 18-yard box before sliding the ball to the unmarked player to fire home.

The match thereafter came alive as Al Wakrah began to search for the equalizer, while Umm Salal were determined to maintain their lead while in search of more goals.

Al Wakrah got two beautiful chances within a few seconds of each other, starting first with Jacinto Dala’s left-footed shot from the right side of the box, which was saved in the centre of the goal. Omar Salah also hit the right post with a right-footed shot from outside the box following an assist by Hamdi Fathy about 35 seconds after Dala’s attempt.

Al Wakrah finally got a chance at redemption just before halftime after Umm Salal’s Hossam Kamal was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area. After a lengthy VAR check, the spot kick was eventually awarded and forward converted with a right-footed shot to the centre of the goal to draw level for his team.

Four minutes into the second half, Al Wakrah’s Ayoub Assal narrowly missed what could have been their second goal after hitting the bar with a right-footed shot from outside the box.

Umm Salal also got their own opportunity to restore their lead in the 52nd minute, but Marouane Louadni’s header, following a cross by Oussama Tannane, went narrowly wide.

Benyettou was again called into action from the spot in the 63rd minute after Umm Salal’s Ali Afif conceded a penalty from a hand ball in the 18-yard box and the Algerian was all calm and composed as he slotted home with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Landing Badji’s net.

In search of a much-needed equaliser, Umm Salal made a double substitution in the 75th minute, with Khaled Al Zereiqi replacing Khaled Waleed while Delort gave way for Ilyas Brimil, but the replacements failed to add any bite to them as Al Wakrah ran away with the victory.