Al Wakrah overcame a resilient Al Shahania with a 4-1 victory in Week 14 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Friday.

Al Wakrah’s goals were scored by Mohamed Benyettou in the 21st and 90+1 minutes, Iliass Hassani (63rd) and Khalid Muneer (88th). Al Shahania had earlier equalised in the 51st minute through Ramin Rezaein.

Al Shanania found themselves on the wrong end of an entertaining must-win game against their rivals in which they let slip an opportunity to enhance their perilous league position.

Al Wakrah, who also find themselves in the lower positions in the league, were not in a charitable mood and put in a relentless first-half performance in which they were able subdue their opponents and even get on the scoresheet. Omar Ali muscled his way into opposition territory and set up Benyettou from distance and the latter fired past goalkeeper Ebrahim Mordou inside the far post.

A reinvigorated Al Shahania came roaring out for the second half and were nearly on level terms within a minute when Ali Fereydoon cushioned a headed pass into the path of Saad Hussain and his volley forced a good save from Hassan Idriss.

It did not take long to make the pressure count and they found the breakthrough minutes later as Akaichi’s cross was diverted into the path of Ramin who struck the ball into the far corner with little chance for the goalkeeper as it squirmed in off the post.

Al Wakrah soon came back into the game and nearly got their lead back when Sanchez Isaias shaped a lovely cross from the left which Ismail Mardanli rose to meet, but his fierce header went fractionally over the cross bar. They did not have to wait long to get back in front when Benyettou fed Muneer and his square pass from inside the box found Hassani, who tapped home from close range.

The Blue Wave scored two goals in quick succession to seal the tie. First, Benyettou muscled his way into the box before delaying the pass until the onrushing Muneer broke through, took one touch and slotted home, before Benyettou this time latched onto a throw-in, drove into the penalty area before turning his man and firing inside the near post to further increase the margin of victory.