Umm Salal relied on a first-half strike to beat Qatar SC 1-0 in Week 20 of the QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium on Sunday.

Mahmoud Al Mawas scored the all-important goal in the 21st minute to hand Umm Salal their sixth win of the season.

The Orange Fortress moved to 23 points and The Kings remained on 16, facing the relegation threat.

After a few feisty exchanges, Umm Salal grabbed the lead after Qatar SC were guilty of poor marking. Hossam Kamal found Al Mawas with a high cross from the right wing and the former, strangely enough unmarked despite the presence of four Qatar SC players inside the box, calmly headed the ball into the net. Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail produced a full-length dive, but in vain.

Qatar SC defender Mohammed Al Jabri fired a shot at the Umm Salal goal in the 34th minute, but keeper Basel Zaidan blocked it with quick thinking.

A minute later, Qatar SC defender Ali Jassemi also aimed at the goal, but Zaidan was up to the task as he stopped the ball to thwart the danger.

Two minutes later, Umm Salal’s Luiz Otavio found his way to the Qatar SC box, but his shot from close range was blocked by Al Hail.

Al Mawas charged his way into the Qatar SC box in the 72nd minute, but his powerful shot from close range was palmed away by the goalkeeper.

Despite the loss, Qatar SC enjoyed 57 per cent of possession.