Umm Salal pulled off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Al Wakrah in Week 16 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Friday.

Raul Becerra (ninth minute) and Mahmoud Al Mawas (84th-minute penalty) scored for Umm Salal, while Al Wakrah’s goal came through Khalid Muneer in the 68th minute.

Umm Salal earned three valuable points in their desperate attempts to move away from the danger zone. The Orange Fortress are now on 13 points following their third victory in this season’s competition.

On the other hand, Al Wakrah would rue their missed opportunities despite dominating ball possession with 62 per cent. They even forced 10 corner kicks as against Umm Salal’s four.

The Blue Wave thus dropped three crucial points, which will have a strong bearing on their final position with six matches to go. They remained on 19 points after suffering their seventh defeat.

It is interesting to note that Umm Salal had beaten Al Wakrah by the same margin in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.

Umm Salal fared well in the previous three rounds as well, beating Al Khor before holding Al Arabi and reigning champions Al Sadd.

As far as Al Wakrah are concerned, they had an impressive run ever since the start of the tournament’s second leg. They shocked reigning champions Al Sadd before holding Qatar SC and beating Al Shahania.

However, Al Wakrah had suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of leaders Al Duhail in Week 15.

Coming to the action, both teams fought it out throughout the game. January recruit Becerra gave Umm Salal an early lead by heading in Walid Meslob’s cross.

Despite making several attempts at the goal, Al Wakrah had to wait till the 68th  minute to equalise as Khalid Muneer nodded home Omar Ali’s cross.

The winning goal came off a penalty, awarded when Al Wakrah’s Ismail Mahmoud ‘handled’ Al Mawas’ cross and the latter was on hand to convert it, sending goalkeeper Saoud Al Khater the wrong way.