Round 21 of the QSL season saw five attackers make telling contributions in front of goal as their sides registered all important victories. Here in our regular column, we highlight the five players who made the difference when it mattered.

Umm Salal’s Syrian international striker Mahmoud Al-Mawas, grabbed his sides winner as The Orange Fortress ran out surprise 3-1 winners over Lekhwiya. Against the run of play Al-Mawas beat the offside trap and sneaked the ball past Lekhiwya keeper Amine Lecomte for his side’s third goal of the night. Al-Mawas was a constant threat on the break and showed plenty of running for Umm Salal who understandably didn’t enjoy much possession against the four times QSL champions.

Algerian hit-man Bagdad Bounjah scored five goals, a record number for a player in one QSL game as Al Sadd brushed past Al Arabi 7-0 on Friday night, in a result which saw Sadd knock Lekhwiya off top spot in the league. 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.

Rodrigo Tabata has been a regular in this column over the course of the season, and the Al Rayyan captain gets the nod again after his inspiring performance in his sides 5-0 win over lowly Muaither. The Qatar international midfielder grabbed a brace and gave two assists for his team-mates. Tabata has often has been central to how Rayyan have played in recent seasons, and it’s no wonder that the Lions upturn in fortunes has been in line with Tabata’s return to form.

Al Kharaitiyat registered back to back wins for only the second time this season, to defeat an out of sorts El Jaish side 2-1 on Thursday evening. Qatari striker Abdulaziz Al Ansari was central to the Thunders win, grabbing the equalizer before setting up team-mate Rachid Tiberkanine for the winner. Al Ansari will be hoping to continue his good run of form when Kharaitiyat take on fellow strugglers Al Shahania in round 22.

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 tie looked to be heading for a draw; however January signing Lazăr had other ideas drilling a shot home from distance for his first goal for his side on the 90^th minute to secure a vital three points for Sailiya’s survival bid.