Al Sailiya defeated Qatar SC 1-0 in Round 5 (Group A) of 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup at the Qatar SC Stadium on Tuesday.

A last-gasp goal by substitute striker Abdulqadir Ilyas (90+5) did the trick for Al Sailiya, who reached the knockout quarterfinals as the third team from the group with eight points.

Qatar SC exited the competition with four points.

Qatar SC had slightly more of the ball in the first half, but Al Sailiya created more chances.

After many missed opportunities, the first half ended goalless, with Al Sailiya’s Tiago Bezerra’s rocket shot towards the end of it underlining the statement.

Tiago and Ahmed Hammoudan, who switched from Al Khor at the start of this season, led Al Sailiya’s charge, whereas new recruit Anthony Okpotu and Abdulaziz Adel were at the helm of Qatar SC’s attacks.

Both teams were reduced to 10 men in the 49th minute when referee Khamis Al Marri red-carded Qatar SC captain Mohammed Salem and Al Sailiya’s Ahmed Al Minhali for a tussle that followed a tackle.

Okpotu was in the thick of action on the hour. He first headed narrowly wide of the target and then chipped the ball off target past an advancing Al Sailiya goalkeeper Amine Lecomte.

The sides tried hard as the match wore on, but for a goal.

Then came the goal that turned around Al Sailiya’s fortunes, with Ilyas becoming the super sub with his goal on the stroke of final whistle.