A Farid Boulaya strike saw Al Wakrah edge Umm Salal 1-0 in a crucial Week 20 match of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Friday.

Algerian midfielder Boulaya struck from about 15 yards outside the box in the 19th minute of the match to dash the rivals’ hopes.

The crucial win took Al Wakrah’s points tally to 24 points.

The defeat, meanwhile, left Umm Salal stranded on 15 points, battling in the relegation zone with bottom-placed Al Khor.

The winning goal for The Blue Wave came about in a bit of a freak fashion after an Ayoub Assal strike was blocked by Umm Salal’s goalkeeper Landing Badji near the left post, but Al Wakrah regained possession and after a relay had Boulaya unleashing a long kick which beat Badji, this time to his left.

Al Wakrah held sway for most of the opening half, but Umm Salal came back challenging in the second session. They, however, could not find a successful finish despite several attempts on the rival citadel.

In the 50th minute, Umm Salal’s Victor Lekhal had a fine chance when in front of the goal, but his hurried kick went over the crossbar.

Eight minutes later, Umm Salal’s Othman Al Yahri dribbled his way inside the box, but failed to beat Al Wakrah’s goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak from near the right post.

Umm Salal made half a dozen more attempts, but failed to find the target.

In stoppage time, Al Wakrah attacked on a counter, but an adventurous kick sailed over the bar.