Al Rayyan and Al Arabi shared the spoils in a tame derby encounter on Thursday evening at Al Sadd stadium. The Lions opened the scoring towards the end of the second half, before Al Arabi fought back in the second half though Nigerian winger Imoh Ezekiel. 

Al Rayyan took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Qatar international striker Sebastian Soria. Winger Abdurahman Al-Harazi pushed forward on the left wing and found Soria who planted the ball past Arabi keeper Rajab Hamza. 

Al Arabi pushed hard for an equalizer and both Paulinho and Luis Jiminez had two golden chances to find a way back into the game. Eventually Al Arabi’s pressure tolled on the 52nd minute when defender Yousef Ramadan whipped in a fine cross which fell to the feet of Nigerian striker Imoh Ezekiel who made no mistake from close range. 

The tie often boiled over at times and the referee did well to control the players, who weren’t shy in putting in the heavy tackles. Al Rayyan had the better of the chances in a second half that in truth winded down. On the 65th minute Uruguayan defender Gonzalo Viera was picked out from a set-piece from Spanish striker Sergio Garcia, but his header flew just over.