2021-22 QNB Stars League Week 3 highlights
A total of 19 goals were scored in the Week 3 fixtures of the 2021-2022 QNB Qatar Stars league played on Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22, respectively.
The Qatar Clasico between age-long rivals Al Sadd and Al Rayyan lived up to its billing as it recorded the highest number of goals (six), with four of it going the way of The Wolves, who sit comfortably on the top of the standings with maximum points from all the three matches played so far.
Going by their current form, the defending champions are in cruise control and are in good stead to retain the crown, all things being equal.
Last season's runners-up Al Duhail also triumphed in their match against Al Gharafa.
The only stalemate of the week was between Umm Salal and Al Ahli.
Here are the highlights from the matches:
Match: Al Khor 1 vs Al Wakrah 2
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2021.
Venue: Al Khor Stadium
Al Wakrah defeated Al Khor 2-1 in Week 3 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium on Wednesday.
Mohamed Benyettou (24 th minute) and Gelson Dalla (45+3) scored for Al Wakrah, who now have four points as they registered their first victory this season, having lost 0-1 to Al Arabi and drawn 1-1 with Al Rayyan. Saeed Brahmi (90+3) pulled one back for Al Khor.
Al Khor have yet to register a victory, having lost 1-4 to Al Duhail and drawn 1-1 with Umm Salal. Teams fought evenly in the first half as they both were chasing their first win in this season’s tournament.
In the 16th minute, Brahmi scored a goal, but referee Saoud Al Athba ruled it offside after consulting the VAR. The cancelled goal increased the confidence of Al Wakrah players and in came Benyettou’s goal.
At a time when everyone was expecting the first half to end only with Benyettou’s goal came Dalla’s goal following a quick counter-attack and past goalkeeper Baba Djibril.
In the second half, Al Wakrah strengthened their presence in the penalty area and in the midfield in order to be playing it safe. On the other hand, Al Khor players made many attempts, but they did not pose any danger to the Al Wakrah goalkeeper.
Al Khor then left it late before Brahimi came up with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area to the left of the Al Wakrah goalkeeper.
Match: Al Rayyan 2 vs Al Sadd 4
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium
Al Sadd beat Al Rayyan 4-2 in the Qatar Clasico at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.
Hassan Al Haydous (fourth minute), Baghdad Bounedjah (21st minute), Andre Ayew (24th minute) and Akram Afif (58th minute) found the net for Al Sadd in the high-profile encounter. Hashem Ali (45+2) and Abdulaziz Hatem (49th minute) scored for Al Rayyan.
Al Sadd raised their points tally to nine with their third straight win, while Al Rayyan remained on two points that they earned from their two draws.
Al Sadd got off to a flying start when Tareq Salman – with the ball near the centerline - picked out an unmarked Al Haydous. The Al Sadd star anticipated the cross well and charged ahead with the ball. Al Rayyan keeper Fahad Younis stepped out of his position, but Al Haydous – before Al Rayyan defender Ali Karami could give chase - smartly clipped the ball above his head for his side’s first goal. It was Al Haydous’ first goal of the new season.
Bounedjah doubled Al Sadd’s lead after beating three markers. After receiving a cross from Afif at the centre line, Bounedjah raced towards the Al Rayyan box. He had three markers chasing him including Dame Traore, but the Algerian striker flicked the ball at an acute angle with the greatest of calm.
Ayew joined the scorers’ list with a left-footed drive with only Al Rayyan keeper to beat.
Al Rayyan pulled one back in the dying seconds of the first half when Al Sadd keeper Barsham ended up giving away a cross to Al Rayyan’s Ali, who was lurking just outside the box. Ali wasted little time in lobbing the ball into the net over the head of Barsham.
Five minutes into the second half, Al Rayyan struck again when Hatem deflected a cross from Ali Karami into the top of the net from close range.
Al Sadd star Afif found the net when a cross from Bounedjah got deflected off Al Rayyan’s Shojae Khalilzadeh. With the ball within striking range, an unmarked Afif unleashed a left-footed drive that crashed into the net.
Match: Al Duhail 3 vs Al Gharafa 1
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium
Al Duhail beat Al Gharafa 3-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.
A first-half goal by captain Almoez Ali (28th minute, penalty) and a double by Abdelrahman Mohammed (54th and 67th minutes) powered Al Duhail to an impressive win. Ahmed Alaaeldin (59th minute, penalty) scored the only goal for Al Gharafa.
In the 23rd minute, drama unfolded as a goal by Al Gharafa was disallowed, but Al Duhail scored one a few minutes later.
Sofiane Hanni – following a cross from Nasser Al Ahrak - fired a long-range shot that crashed into the Al Duhail net. But the referee – instead of allowing the goal – stopped play to seek VAR assistance to check on a possible hand ball infringement just a few seconds earlier inside the Al Gharafa box by Ahmed Alaaeldin.
Referee Salman Falahi – after a quick VAR review – ruled a penalty in favour of Al Duhail and star striker Almoez easily converted it.
Nine minutes into the second half, Al Duhail doubled their lead. An unmarked Abdelrahman clipped the ball into an empty net from close range following a cross from Al Ahrak from the touchline after a solo run from the flank.
After the second goal, Luiz Martin brought down Othman Al Yahri with a tackle just inside the Al Duhail box and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Alaaeldin easily converted the penalty kick a minute short of the hour-mark.
Abdelrahman then added the third goal for Al Duhail deflecting an easy ball into the open net following a cross from Ferjani Sassi.
Match: Al Arabi 1 vs Al Sailiya 0
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium
Al Arabi beat Al Sailiya 1-0 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.
Yousef Msakni produced a solo effort in the 83rd minute for the only goal of the match.
In the ninth minute following a slow start, Al Sailiya’s Ali Jasemi managed a feeble touch, but could not find the angle to work on his close-range deflection as Al Arabi keeper Mahmoud Abunada pouched the ball.
Al Sailiya’s Mohammed Salah El Neel went for a long-range shot, but the striker was found wanting on a threatening finish.
On the half-hour mark, former Qatar international Hamed Ismail charged into the Al Sailiya box, but his shot was blocked by keeper Claude Amine. Al Sailiya’s Ramin Rezaein jumped high on a corner kick, but his deflection went above the Al Arabi crossbar in the 39th minute.
Two minutes into the second half, Al Arabi showed early intent to score when Mehrdad Mohammadi found Aaron Boupendza with a neat cross. Boupendza anticipated well, but failed with direction on his deflection from close range.
In the 73rd minute, El Neel jumped high from close range, but his header fell in the lap of Al Arabi keeper Abunada.
The deadlock was broken by Msakni with a solo run from the flank. Despite being chased by two defenders, the Tunisian forward reached the edge of the box before calmly chopping the ball towards the goal.
The ball bounced awkwardly for keeper Amine before crashing into the net, much to the dismay of Al Sailiya coach Sami Trabelsi.
Match: Umm Salal 1 vs Al Ahli 1
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Venue: Al Arabi Stadium
Umm Salal beat Al Ahli 1-0 at the Al Arabi Stadium on Tuesday.
Aymen Hussein scored as early as the third minute for Umm Salal, while substitute Patrick Eze equalized for Al Ahli in the 87th minute. Umm Salal and Al Ahli now have three and two points respectively.
Umm Salal had earlier drawn 2-2 with Al Rayyan and 1-1 with Al Khor. Al Ahli, on the other hand, drew goalless with Qatar SC and lost 0-1 to Al Gharafa.
Al Ahli captain Ali Qaderi was sent off in the 63rd minute for a foul on Umm Salal’s Yassin Bakhit.
The Orange Fortress shocked The Brigadiers early when Aymen beat goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues after being fed by Isael Barbosa, who received the ball from Bakhit.
Al Ahli pressed hard and Serbian Marko Jevtovic almost scored the equalizer in the fifth minute, but his shot was pushed out by Umm Salal goalkeeper Khalifa Abubakr, who had a good game throughout.
In the second half, Al Ahli continued to attack and almost drew parity in the 55th minute through Qaderi only to be thwarted by the Umm Salal goalkeeper.
After the hour mark, referee Khamis Al Marri gave Qaderi his marching orders after he was booked a second time.
Umm Salal tried to take advantage of the situation and went on the offensive.
Bakhit had a shot go wide of the Al Ahli post.
Al Ahli were, however, not to be bogged down and Eze succeeded in nodding home a cross from the left by Saleh Badr Al Yazidi.
Match: Al Shamal 2 vs Qatar SC 1
Date: Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium
Al Shamal beat Qatar SC 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.
Bahaa Faisal (25th-minute penalty) and Amjad Attwan (36th) scored the goals for Al Shamal, who produced a fighting performance. Djamel Benlamri scored for Qatar SC in the 81st minute. It was promoted side Al Shamal’s first victory.
Following a long-range free-kick, Matias Nani of Al Shamal – while trying to reach the ball – and Qatar SC’s Hossam Kamal got into a tangle inside the Qatar SC box. Both players crashed to the ground. The referee sought the VAR assistance to declare a penalty in favour of Al Shamal.
Bahaa Faisal easily converted from the spot-kick to give his side a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute.
In the 36th minute, Al Shamal doubled the lead with a freak shot from Amjad Attwan. After receiving a shot cross, Attwan aimed for the goal with a long-range shot around 10 meters outside the Qatar SC box. Attwan’s shot bounced off a Qatar SC player and lobbed into the Qatar SC goal with keeper Al Hail unable to reach the high ball that crashed into the right side of the goal.
Attwan carried on with threatening moves in the second half. In the 53rd minute, he unleashed another long-range bullet that was saved by Qatar SC keeper Al Hail with a dive to his right. Close to the hour mark, Qatar SC’s Mbenza produced a quick-reflex shot from close range, but Al Shamal keeper Marwan Sherif blocked the shot.
Qatar SC reduced the deficit when Benlamri scored with a snap-header in the 81st minute.
The QNB QSL Week 4 round of matches will be played on Sunday, September 26 and Monday, September 27, 2021.
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
Twitter - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
