Al Rayyan got off to a flyer in the opening round of Group 1 in the Ooredoo Cup, thanks to a 3-0 victory against a spirited Al Shahania side at the Al Arabi Stadium on Friday. 

The goals were scored by Ahmed Al Saadi in the 19th minute, Abdulrahman Al Harazi in the 61st minute and Rodrigo Tabata in the 85th minute.

The game started in tentative fashion, with the first major chance resulting in a goal. Sebastian Soria surged into the Al Shahania half before laying off the ball to Al Saadi. He advanced with the ball before setting himself for an audacious strike from outside the box which flew past the hapless Ebrahim Mordou in goal. 

Up until that point, the game had largely been controlled by The Lions. However, Al Shahania gained confidence and eagerly pressed for an equaliser before half-time with two super opportunities.

The first came when Mesaad Al Hamad found space on the left before cutting the ball back to Aldoukali Al Baoure, but his snapshot from close range required an excellent save from Saoud Al Hajri.

On the stroke of half-time, Kesse Amangoua, who caused problems throughout, put another dangerous ball into the penalty area for the onrushing Abdelaziz Barrada. However, his first-time strike demanded yet another fantastic save from the excellent Al Hajri in goal.

Al Shahania started the second half positively, but it was Al Rayyan who were the most decisive in front of goal as they doubled the lead shortly after the break. Al Harazi scored a delightful goal as he latched onto a long pass through the middle of the pitch and looped the ball over the goalkeeper in exquisite fashion.

The match was long over as a contest, but it did not stop Rodrigo Tabata from creating a memory of his own in outstanding style. Picking up the ball on the halfway line, he took one quick glance before shooting with an accurate, thunderous strike which flew over the goalkeeper for what turned out to be a wonder goal.