Al Sailiya came from behind to record a crucial 2-1 victory over Al Arabi in Week 10 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium on Thursday.

Pierre-Michel Lassoga (45th minute) gave Al Arabi the lead, but Al Sailiya replied through Meshaal Al Shammari in the 57th minute and Mubarak Boussoufa in the 80th minute.

Al Sailiya now have 14 points with their fourth victory, whereas Al Arabi crashed to their third defeat and stayed on 14 points.

Al Arabi have the advantage of having played one match less as their Week 5 fixture against defending champions Al Sadd was deferred due to the latter’s AFC Champions League commitment.

Al Sailiya’s Iranian striker Karim Ansari scared the rival goal in the very first minute of the game. Two minutes later, at the other end, Yousef Abdulrazaq sent a rebound wide after Al Sailiya goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker blocked Birkir Bjarnason’s free-kick.

On the half-hour mark, Al Arabi striker Hamdi Harbaoui headed against the right post off a cross from Fahd Ali.

Soon, it was Al Arabi’s Marc Muniesa Martinez’s turn to strike against the left upright off a rebound after Khalifa parried Hamdi’s shot.

After Al Sailiya striker Abdulqadir Ilyas had his shot blocked by rival goalkeeper Gregory Gomis, Hamdi himself hit against the left post.

Action gathered steam and Al Arabi finally found the target through Lassoga, who slammed in a Mohammed Salah El Neel cross from the left in the last minute of first half.

Al Sailiya began the latter session aggressively and were rewarded for their persistent efforts.

After Nadir Belhadj came close to scoring in the 48th minute, Meshaal was on target as he headed in a corner kick.

Meshaal had a hand in their winning goal as well. He initiated the move along the right and found Majdi Siddiq, who crossed the ball to Boussoufa to apply the finish.

Al Sailiya’s Bilal Saidani was red-carded in the 84th minute for a second booking, but that did not stop them from emerging as the winners.