Honours even between Umm Salal & Al Khor

Umm Salal went head to head against Al Ahli in round twenty of the QSL at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Friday evening. After two second-half goals, one from each side, saw game end 1-1. Umm Salal’s Yannick Sagbo opened the scoring with a spectacular free kick while brigadiers striker Ali Ferydoon retaliated with a goal of his own to make it 1-1.

The first half was uneventful with only one shot on target which came from Al Ahli’s Ali Ferydoon in the sixth minute. Umm Salal were playing with a defensive approach as their opponents enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half.

The game picked up pace in the second period as both sides managed to score a goal each inside the first ten minutes of the restart. Both teams showed attacking intent and it was an end to end second half with many shots on goal forcing the keepers into action.

In the fifty-third minute, Yannick Sagbo got his name on the scoresheet for the ninth time this season. The Ivorian scored from a free kick just outside the box as his powerful shot sailed into near side of the goal.

Just two minutes later Ali Ferydoon scored a goal of his own to bring Al Ahli level. The on loan Al Shamal striker chested a cross down at the edge of the box and let lose a powerful low shot on the half volley which rippled the back of the net to make it 1-1.

The match ended with both teams taking home a point. The result leaves Al Ahli in the same spot in the table at sixth with twenty-four points while Umm Salal remain at eighth with twenty-three points.

Late comeback earns Muaither a point against Al Khor

Muaither came back from two goals down to claim a hard-fought point against Al Khor, with the Round 20 QSL fixture finishing 2-2 at Al Khor Stadium.

Both sides headed into game desperate for the full three points, with Al Khor looking to avoid dropping into the bottom three and Muaither aiming to climb out of the danger zone, sitting second from bottom. Muaither also carried form into the game, which showed in the second half, while Al Khor’s first half performance showed they have bounced back from their 6-0 drubbing against Lekhwiya in Round 19.

The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides defending well but creating little in the way of clear chances on goal. It was Al Khor who finally managed to break the deadlock and take a decisive lead just before the half time whistle was blown. Al Khor’s Moroccan striker,Mouhcine Iajour found the back of the net on 41st minute to give The Knights the important lead going into half time.

Muaither came out looking more energised in the second half, desperate to get back into the game, but found themselves 2-0 down after Al Khor found the back of the net again on the 53rd minute thanks to their number 10, Babou Sidiki. Winger Madson picked out the on-loan Al Rayyan player with a neat pass, and Sidiki swept the ball into the bottom left hand corner to double his sides lead.

Despite going two down, Muaither didn’t let their heads drop and they continued to fight their way back into the game. On the 70th minute, they gave themselves a lifeline when Iraqi winger, Ahmed Yasin, made it 2-1 after finding himself in acres of space and able to connect with a cross and convert an easy header to give the Stallions hope.

Then just minutes later, Yasin struck again to make it 2-2 and set up an interesting final 15 minutes of the game. Yasin managed to beat the offside trap and latch onto a long ball from the halfway line to give himself a one on one chance against Al Khor’s goalkeeper which he easily converted on the 75th minute. Both teams pressed until the final whistle in the hunt for the full three points but neither side was able to find the back of the net again and it finished 2-2, with both teams taking a deserved point.

The point each does little for their respective relegation struggles and they both maintain their league positions heading into Round 21 of the season.