Al Arabi’s Wilfried Bony was the hero as they came from behind to record an entertaining 3-2 victory away to Al Sailiya at the Al Ahli Stadium in the first of Friday night’s fixtures in Week 18 of the QNB Stars League.

Al Arabi scored through Wilfried Bony (12th and 80th minutes) and Victor Vazquez in the 78th. Al Sailiya’s goals came from a Morteza Pouraliganji own goal in the 53rd minute and Abdulkadir Ilyas in the 61st.

The night got off to a lively start when Bony latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area before rounding Saoud Al Khater in goal and giving his team an early lead.

Bilal Saidani nearly got his side back on level terms shortly after. However, his close-range effort was brilliantly intercepted by Gregory Gomis in the Al Arabi goal.

Shortly after the restart, The Peregrines were level when Fahad Yousef skipped into the box from the left and his square pass was unfortunately converted into his own goal by Morteza.

It did not take long for them to capitalise on this again as Yousef, in almost identical fashion, skipped past the Al Sailiya defence and squared the ball across the box, but this time Ilyas was on hand to slide it home.

As the clock was ticking down, Al Sailiya got themselves back on level terms when Vazquez reacted quickest to a deep free-kick and headed home unmarked at the back post.

With barely enough time to catch breath, Al Arabi secured all three points when Musab Keder surged down the right before laying off the ball to Bony who, in composed fashion, glided past his marker and struck his shot inside the far post.