Croatian star Mario Mandzukic did not get a QNB Stars League (QSL) debut he hoped for as points leaders Al Duhail were held to a goalless draw by Qatar SC on a day when Al Khor handed a shock 2-1 defeat to Al Sailiya.
Mandzukic had his goal in the first half cancelled by VAR, that also rejected a goal by Qatar SC’s Sardor Rashidov.
Following the draw at Al Gharafa Stadium, Rui Faria-coached Al Duhail went two points clear of second-placed Al Rayyan with 30 points – the only two teams yet to concede a defeat in the ongoing QSL season.
Mandzukic, who moved from Juventus, made his presence felt on his Al Duhail debut right from the start and found the target in 15th minute but referee Salman Falahi refused the goal after VAR declared a marginal offside during the attack.
Six minutes later, Rashidov was also denied a goal after replay showed his foot was edging an Al Duhail defender.
Overall, it was a spirited show by Qatar SC who resisted Al Duhail attacks well to snatch a point from the ‘Winter Champions’. They are on eighth position with 14 points.
Meanwhile, Al Khor jumped one spot to 10th with nine points after a stunning victory over sixth-placed Al Sailiya.
Karim Ansari put Al Sailiya ahead in the 18th minute, only to see Helal Mohammed equalise for Al Khor in the 29th minute, with Ibrahim Amada scoring the winning goal in the 83rd minute.
The victory will do a world of good in Al Khor’s bid to move away from the danger zone.
Al Sailiya, who are keen to be in the top four like they did last season when they ended up third for their best-ever finish in the league, stood on 17 points as they suffered their fifth defeat. Al Khor have the advantage of having played one game less as their Week 7 fixture against Al Sadd was deferred due to the latter’s AFC Champions League commitment. It will now be played on 21st January before the QNB Stars League resumes with Week 12 action on 23rd January.
Al Sailiya and Al Khor, who had played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg, started off on a fast pace this time, with both teams having their share of the ball.
Gradually, Al Khor were more on the ascendancy, but it was Al Sailiya who surged ahead. Hamad Al Abidi crossed the ball from the right, Abdulqadir Ilyas took a shot at the goal and the ball rebounded off Al Khor’s Mohammed Al Jabri to Ansari, who only had to place it in.
Tiago Bezerra led Al Khor’s charge and their efforts bore fruit as Helal struck the ball in from the top of the box after being set up by Tiago.
Al Sailiya’s Nadir Belhadj unleashed two booming long-rangers in each half. First, it went narrowly over the bar. Later on, Al Khor goalkeeper Baba Djibril collected his shot.
Ahmed Hammoudan and Tiago were unlucky with their attempts at the goal in the first half.
