Al Rayyan’s Khalfan Ibrahim (foreground) and Al Duhail captain Luiz Martin Junior vie for the ball possession during their QSL match, yesterday.
DOHA: Al Rayyan held off an rampaging Al Duhail at bay for a goalless draw in a clash of QNB Stars League (QSL) titans at the Khalifa International Stadium, yesterday.
In the other match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on a day of twin thriller, a last-gasp goal rescued Al Sadd from the jaws of defeat against Al Gharafa as both sides walked away with a point each from a 1-1 draw.
Al Duhail, seeking to avenge their Sheikh Jassim Cup defeat to Al Rayyan, was a better side but their numerous attempts to score went in vain as Al Rayyan players did well to keep Al Duhail strikers in check.
Oumar Barry was star for ‘The Lions’ as the goal-keeper stopped several shots on target to defy Al Duhail.
Defending champions Al Duhail came close to scoring in the 7th minute when striker Youssef El Arabi broke into the box but was well stopped by Al Rayyan defenders.
‘The Red Knights’ made another move four minutes later but failed to beat Barry, who looked in outstanding form. Al Rayyan goalie blocked another fiery shot on target in the 14th minute before neutralising another move in the 18th minute.
Al Rayyan also attacked Al Duhail in patches and in doing so their captain Rodrigo Tabata was handed a yellow card for dangerous play. Tabata while trying to shoot on target via a bicycle kick brought dow Al Duhail captain Luiz Martin Junior C, resulting in the caution.
It was the same story in the second half with Al Duhail launching several attacks without finding the target and had to be content with one point.
Earlier, Vladimir Weiss scored for Al Gharafa in the 50th minute, while Hassan Al Haydous helped Al Sadd draw parity by scoring from the penalty spot in almost the last second of five-minute stoppage time.
Al Sadd were more on the offensive right throughout the opening half of their Week 3 match at the Al Sadd Stadium. QSL top scorer and spearhead Baghdad Bounedjah got a few chances, but failed to convert them, including a penalty in the 29th minute.
The penalty was awarded when defender Pedro was fouled while chasing the ball that was a rebound off Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yusuf Hassan who blocked Bounedjah’s volley.
Boualem Khoukhi had a header blocked by Yusuf off a Xavi Hernandez corner, while Akram Afif was also off-target.
Al Gharafa mostly resorted to counter-attacks, with Wesley Sneijder, Weiss and Mehdi Taremi on the move.
The Cheetahs’ best chance came towards the end of the session even though Amado’s scorching shot went wide by inches.
Even as Al Sadd continued to launch offensives, it was Al Gharafa who surged ahead against the run of play, with Weiss on target five minutes after restart.
The Slovakian midfielder seems to be making up for his long injury layoff last season.
Soon, Abdelkarim Hassan skied the ball and Bounedjah was again off target. The Algerian striker came close to scoring at least half-a-dozen times. When it was not the Al Gharafa goalkeeper, bad luck stood in his way.
Amid Al Sadd’s intense raids came another chance for Al Gharafa to score, but Amro Seraj’s pass was too fast for Taremi to connect in front of an open goal.
Al Sadd finally got lucky at the stroke of final whistle as Al Haydous converted from the spot after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Akram by Al Gharafa’s Othman Al Yahri.
Defender Ibrahim Majed pulled out injured to add to The Wolves’ disappointment.
