Round 21 of the QSL season saw Al Sadd return to the top of the standings, Umm Salal pulled off a huge upset against Lekhwiya, and two relegation threatened sides pulled off impressive victories to aid their survival chances. In our regular weekly column talking points, we look over the moments that matter.

Lekhwiya finally tasted defeat for the first time this season after 21 weeks of QSL action. Djamel Belmadi’s side was masterfully taken on the break by Umm Salal who ran out 3-1 winners on the night. Umm Salal stopper Baba Malick was sensational on the night, and was also joined by defender Anderson Martins and the attacking duo of Yannick Sagbo and Mahmoud Al-Mawas as the stand out players for the side.

With Lekhwiya dropping points again, Al Sadd took the opportunity to go level on points with the league leaders with both hands. The Wolves registered their second highest win of the season, defeating old rivals Al Arabi 7-0. Jesaldo Ferriera’s side looked irresistible on the attack, with Algerian striker Bagdad Bounjah scoring five goals-a record number for a player in one QSL game.

Bounjah’s five goal haul meant that he went level pegging with Lekhwiya’s Yusef El Arabi who also has scored 21 goals this season, in what promises to be an interesting duel for the Mansor Muftah award at the end of the season QFA awards. To cap a perfect night for Al Sadd they went to the top of the QSL standings on goal difference.

At the foot of the QSL standings, two sides registered vital victories to boost their bid to beat the drop. First up Al Kharaitiyat registered an impressive 2-1 win over a struggling El Jaish side on Thursday evening. Jaish took the lead through Romarinho, but the Thunders showed plenty of spirit to battle back for the three points with goals from Abdulaziz Al Ansari and January signing Rachid Tiberkanine. The win saw Kharaitiyat pull out of the relegation zone.



Sami Trabelsi’s Al Sailiya side relied on a late winner from Romanian midfielder Valentin Lazăr to run out 2-1 winners over Al Ahli on Friday evening. The Peregrines took an early lead though a crisp Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov volley, before Al Ahli found a late equalizer via Ali Ferydoon. The tie looked to be heading towards a draw, however January signing Lazăr had other ideas drilling a shot home from distance on the 90^th minute to secure a vital three points for Sailiya’s survival bid.