Al Arabi players celebrate scoring a goal against Al Kharaitiyat during their QNB Stars league match in Doha yesterday.
DOHA: After enduring a heavy defeat against Al Sadd last week, Al Arabi, yesterday bounced back at the QNB Stars League (QSL) to claim full points with a 1-0 victory over Al Kharaitiyat at Khalifa International Stadium.
A 14th minute goal from Mudir Abdurabu Alradaei proved enough for Al Arabi to secure their second victory in the QSL, after they were routed by Al Sadd 10-1 following a record 7-goal blitz by Wolves’ striker Baghdad Bounedjah.
Mudir made no mistake from a close range to find target after a ball from Omar Moharam Abdaala following a corner kick.
The match then saw several attacks from both the sides with Al Kharaitiyat stepping up efforts in the second half as they sought the leveler desperately. However, Al Arabi ensured their lead remain intact with a solid defense to collect maximum points.
Al Kharaitiyat could have found the last-gasp leveler after a goal mouth melee but goal-keeper Masoud Mohmad Zaray blocked the ball on the goal line with a superb left dive to seal as Al Arabi players walked away victorious. Earlier, in other match at the same venue, Al Khor and Al Shahania shared spoils after a 1-1 draw.
Al Khor took the lead in 9th minute with Ahmed Yasin scoring a brilliant goal after beating three defenders. Al Shahania replied through substitute Sultan Bakhit Al Khuwari in 67th minute to level the match.
Meanwhile, two big matches will be played today with an in-form Al Sadd taking Al Gharafa at their home turf while defending champions Al Duhail will meet Al Rayyan at Khalifa International Stadium.
Al Duhail coach Nabil Maaloul said his team must do well against Al Rayyan before heading for the first leg of AFC Champions League quarter-final against Iran’s Persepolis on August 28.
“This is an important encounter for us. We will try to continue in the same pattern and the team is ready for a big game before our AFC Champions League quarter-final first,” he said.
“And we certainly will not find any team better than Al Rayyan to give us a real test and we want to continue our good run. At the same time, we will put up our best despite the absence of some key players due to injuries.
“We have young players who are able to compensate for the seniors’ absence. Al Rayyan are always title contenders. Beating them will boost our morale, especially since they had beaten us in the Sheikh Jassim Cup,” Maaloul added.
Al Duhail star Yousef El Arabi said: “We have a strong desire to continue to achieve positive results in the league and to register our third victory when we face Al Rayyan. It is a difficult game, but our team is ready.”
Al Rayyan coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena said his team was targeting the second consecutive victory against the QSL champions.
“We are up against strong title contenders. Naturally, the game will be tough. We are correcting the mistakes we committed during our drawn encounter against Umm Salal. I wish we win this time too, having beaten Al Duhail in the Sheikh Jassim Cup,” he said.
