The tenth installment of the QSL season saw plenty of action at the top of the table, along with some key results for sides scrapping at the bottom of the QSL standings. In our weekly column we look over the talking points from the last round of matches that matter.


Back to the drawing board for Al Rayyan

Round ten will be one to forget for Al Rayyan’s following their 5-0 humbling at the hands of bitter rivals Al Sadd in the Qatar Clasico. Michael Laudrup’s side looked bereft ideas in defense as they conceded four second half goals against a rampant Al Sadd side.

The absence of  defensive midfielder Víctor Cáceres has really effected the Lions defensively and they desperately need the Paraguayan to be fit soon if the side are to successfully defend their QSL championship.

The result leaves Al Rayyans in fifth place and a mammoth nine points behind league leaders El Jaish. After two straight defeats in the league, Michael Laudrup will have to rouse his side for their away trip to Al Wakrah, who has not lost a game in three QSL matches.



Big wins at the foot of the table

Round ten saw two key wins for sides towards the bottom half of the QSL standings.  Al Sailiya lept out of the relegation places at the expense of their opponent Muaither, with a hard fought 1-0 win on Tuesday evening. Sami Trabelsi has Qatari younger Sayaf Al-Korbi to thank after popping up with the vital goal midway through the first half.

Likewise Al Wakrah moved off the bottom of the table, registering their first victory of the season against Al Khor with a feisty 1-0 victory. Blue Waves head coach Kais Yâakoubi has seen his side now undefeated in the last three games and will be hoping that they can put together a run games to pull away from the relegation places. They have a tough test when they take on Al Rayyan in round 11. 

Al Gharafa on a roll

Al Gharafa continued their fantastic form in the QSL, notching up their fifth straight win with a 2-0 victory over a tough Umm Salal side. The Cheetahs dominated proceedings from the very start, and eventually broke down The Orange Fortress in the second half thanks to goals from Johnson Kendrick and Abdulghani Muneer.

Pedro Caixina has really steadied a ship after a poor start to the league, and credit has to go to the charismatic Portugeese coach for leading his side on an eight game undefeated streak.  Al Gharafa now have opened up a four point gap over fifth place Al Rayyan and will be aiming to press their advantage when they take on Al Sailiya next time out.