Al Ahli piled more pressure on Al Sailiya, defeating them convincingly by a 3-0 margin in Week 2 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday.

Abel Hernandez (40th and 71st minutes) and Abdullah Al Ahrak (66th minute) scored for Al Ahli, who collected their first points, having lost 1-3 to Al Arabi in Week 1.

On the other hand, Al Sailiya would rue the lost points as they were locked in a 1-1 draw with Al Khor in their opener. The Peregrines, who finished in a creditable third position last season, have yet to settle into their stride this time after making many changes to the squad.

Al Ahli dominated their rivals and had more of the opportunities in the first half. The Brigadiers were rightly rewarded when Abel pounced on a faulty clearance by defender Hamad Al Abidi off a cross from the right by captain Nabil El Zhar.

El Zhar had a goal disallowed for offside 10 minutes into the match.

Al Sailiya’s Senegalese defender Serigne Mbodji, who showed enterprise in moving forward to the goal, was off-target, and Al Ahli’s Majed Mohammed and Abel missed the mark as the first half ended in a one-goal advantage for Al Ahli.

Al Sailiya were desperate to neutralise their opponents’ edge and their players showed more enthusiasm, but it was Al Ahli who struck two more goals.

Al Ahrak only had to tap in the ball to an open goal from close after El Zhar did all the hard work through the left goalline. The winger even evaded goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker before crossing the ball to Al Ahrak.

Al Ahli put it beyond Al Sailiya’s reach when Abel nodded in a headed cross by Mohamad Al Abbassi from the right.