Two late goals saw Al Ahli beat Qatar SC 3-1 in Week 17 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC on Tuesday.

The highly-absorbing contest saw The Brigadiers score through Julian Draxler (42nd minute), Eissa El Nagar (90th minute) and Yazan Al Naimat (90+10 minute) against Qatar SC’s only goal which came from Javi Martinez in the 64th minute.

Their sixth win of the league fetched Al Ahli three more valuable points moving their tally to 19 points and consolidating their eighth place, while Qatar SC remained on 13 points.

In the 30th minute, Qatar SC’s Yohan Boli hit a free-kick into the bottom of the wall, while six minutes later Al Ahli’s Draxler moved in dangerously with the ball, but could not make a strike.

Draxler however made amends soon as he dashed in from the left and went on to beat a lone defender and rival goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi to score. A VAR from the referee ruled out offside as Draxler had overlapped a Qatar SC player after getting the ball.

Jolted by the setback, Qatar SC tried hard to make a comeback, but their efforts could not materialize.

The second session had more robust action and in the 51st minute Ben Malango was within striking range, but hit straight to the goalkeeper.

Qatar SC gained the equalizer following a set piece. Bruno Tabata made a superb swerving kick from about 30 yards away from the box which was then volleyed by Martinez brilliantly into the far left corner of the net.

In the 67th minute, Malango was felled by Al Ahli’s Mohammed Emad following a tussle for the ball just outside the box earning them a free-kick, but Qatar SC could not do much with it.

With the 1-1 deadlock still prevailing, the battle reached fever pitch in the 10 added minutes of injury time and Al Ahli soon struck through El Nagar. A fine move down the left had Draxler in the end producing an assist for an unmarked El Nagar to score and from right in front of the goal as Al Ahli made a big celebration.

In the 90+6 minute, Qatar SC’s Sebastian Soria connected a good header which had Al Ahli’s goalkeeper Marwan Sherif bending backwards to make a brilliant save just in the nick of time.

Al Ahli then doubled their winning lead in the dying minute as Al Naimat after being passed the ball midway ran through to beat Eisa Palangi and the goalkeeper to score.