The Week 5 matches of 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League produced a lot of exciting and closely-fought games, with teams more eager to garner the three valuable points in order to advance in the standings. The matches were played on Saturday, September 21, 2024, and Sunday, September 22, 2024.

RESULTS

Al Duhail bt Al Sadd   5-1

Umm Salal bt Al Shahania   4-2

Al Khor lost to Al Shamal    1-2

Al Rayyan lost to Al Wakrah        0-2

Qatar SC lost to Al Gharafa 1-3

Al Ahli drew Al Arabi 3-3

As many as 27 goals were scored at an average of 4.5 goals per match. This has been the highest goal-scoring round of the season so far.

The round also witnessed five wins and one thrilling draw. The biggest win was achieved by Al Duhail against Al Sadd. Three matches witnessed 18 goals being scored (six goals in each match) and Al Wakrah came out with a clean sheet.

The yellow card was shown 18 times, while the round was free of red cards.

There are still three teams that are yet to taste a victory as yet this season –Al Arabi, Al Khor and Al Shahania.

In terms of standings, Al Duhail continued to display excellence and superiority this season by scoring a fifth successive victory and thereby have full 15 points. They have widened the gap to four points with their closest competitors at the top. Al Ahli, who were held to a thrilling draw by Al Arabi, could have been at a difference of 2 with a win, but are now four points adrift of the leaders.

Al Ahli are in second place with 11 points, Umm Salal third with nine points, Al Gharafa and Al Wakrah in fourth and fifth place with eight points each, Al Shamal sixth with seven points, Al Sadd seventh with six points and, with the same tally, Al Rayyan in eighth place due to goal difference, then Al Arabi in ninth place with four points, followed by Al Khor and Qatar SC in 10th and 11th places, each with three points, and in 12th and last place Al Shahania with two points.

Al Sadd have slipped to seventh place after being third before this week, while Al Rayyan dropped to eighth from fifth. Umm Salal advanced to third place, Al Gharafa and Al Wakrah to fourth and fifth, and Al Shamal to sixth place.

Al Duhail opened the week’s competition with an authoritative win over Al Sadd while displaying superb form in achieving their fifth consecutive victory. The Red Knights showed their strong readiness for the season ahead. On the other hand, Al Sadd fell to a second consecutive defeat and their third of the league season, having lost to Umm Salal in the fourth round.

Umm Salal, meanwhile, also continued their standout journey this season notching their third win this season and a second in a row as they defeated Al Shahania, who had taken the lead in the match but The Orange Fortress succeeded in making a comeback and seizing the three points in a match that produced a lot of thrill.

Al Shamal registered their second victory this season defeating Al Khor – who are still searching for their maiden win. The match witnessed a good rivalry between the two teams to win points before Al Shamal ensured a lead to eventually win and garner the three valuable points.

Al Wakrah, under national coach Ali Rahma Al Marri who took over the technical responsibility a day before the match as announced succeeding Spanish coach Miguel Angel, regained the winning touch bagging a second victory with a strong performance. Al Wakrah were more forceful in the second half of the match against Al Rayyan and the three valuable points gained will act as an incentive for The Blue Wave in their onward journey. On the other hand, Al Rayyan players missed out on taking advantage of a number of chances that came their way, losing focus and enabling Al Wakrah to take the initiative and strike score the first goal.

Al Gharafa were back among wins again and got their second positive result of the season defeating Qatar SC. The Cheetahs obtained the three points that took them into the top four.

In an exciting and roller-coaster match that stayed alive until the dying moments, Al Arabi snatched a valuable point with a draw against Al Ahli, who were up 3-2. However, Yousef Msakni produced a last-gasp third equalizer of the match in the sixth minute of stoppage time for Al Arabi, who were technically led for the first time by American-British coach Anthony Hudson after it was announced that he would take over the responsibility, succeeding Younes Ali.