WATCH: QNB Stars League - Week 3 highlights
The 2020-21 season QNB Stars League’s Week 3 matches were played on Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, at the Qatar SC, Al Duhail, Al Khor and Al Arabi Stadiums.
The high-profile match between Al Sadd and reigning champions Al Duhail was postponed owing to their commitments in the 2020 AFC Champions League, which resumed on September 14 with all West Zone matches on the continent being scheduled in Doha.
The clash of the two giants will now be held on October 21.
Barring that, all five games ended in victories.
The biggest gainers were Al Ahli, who topped the table with nine points following their third consecutive victory, this time against Al Khor by a 1-0 margin. Hernan Perez scored the all-important goal. Al Khor are now 10th (from eighth) with two points.
Below are the highlights and results:
Al Kharaitiyat 0 vs Al Sailiya 2
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2020
Venue: Qatar SC Stadium
Al Sailiya recorded their first victory in the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League by defeating promoted side Al Kharaitiyat 2-0 in their Week 3 match at the Qatar SC Stadium on Saturday.
Iraqi striker Mohanad Ali scored the goals in the 14th and 50th minutes for Al Sailiya, who moved on to four points, while Al Kharaitiyat remained on three points that they collected from their 2-1 victory over Qatar SC in Week 2. The Thunders had lost 1-5 to Al Sadd in the opening round.
For Al Sailiya, who have embarked on the new season with high ambitions and reinforced the squad to improve their fifth-place finish last season, the victory was a big morale booster ahead of the long break in the QNB Stars League.
Al Wakrah 2 vs Umm Salal 0
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2020
Venue: Al Duhail Stadium
Al Wakrah continued their good form by defeating Umm Salal 2-0 in Week 3 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Al Duhail Stadium on Saturday. Mohamed Benyettou scored in the 37th minute and assisted Khalid Muneer in scoring their second goal in the 52nd minute.
Al Wakrah have six points now. The Blue Wave had beaten reigning champions Al Duhail 1-0 in Week 2 after suffering a 1-2 loss to Al Ahli in the opening round. Incidentally, Benyettou, one of the top scorers in last season’s QNB Stars League, was the scorer against Al Duhail.
Umm Salal remained on one point that they bagged from their goalless draw with Al Khor in Week 2. The Orange Fortress had lost 0-3 to Al Duhail in their opener.
Qatar SC 1 vs Al Rayyan 0
Date: Monday, September 7, 2020
Venue: Qatar SC Stadium
Brazilian forward Kayke Rodriguez scored the winner in the 70th minute as Qatar SC defeated Al Rayyan 1-0 in Week 3 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium on Saturday.
Qatar SC, with their first victory, have three points, whereas Al Rayyan stood on four points.
Going into the match, Qatar SC were the basement side without any point, having lost 0-2 to Al Gharafa and 1-2 to Al Kharaitiyat.
The result gave The Kings, coached by ex-Qatar international midfielder Younis Ali, the much-needed confidence as the QNB Stars League takes a break now.
Al Khor 0 vs Al Ahli 1
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2020
Venue: Al Khor Stadium
Al Ahli beat Al Khor 1-0 in Week 3 to complete a hat-trick of wins in the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium on Sunday.
Hernan Perez scored the winning goal in the fourth minute as Al Ahli stormed into the top of the table with nine points, having beaten Al Wakrah 2-1 and Al Arabi 2-0 earlier.
Al Khor remained on two points as they had held Al Arabi 2-2 and Umm Salal goalless.
The all-important goal resulted from a defensive mistake committed by Al Khor captain Naif Al Buraiki. Perez quickly intercepted and trapped the ball from Naif, who passed it to fellow defender Robert Melki to avert danger, and shot it home past goalkeeper Baba Djibril.
Al Arabi 1 vs Al Gharafa 2
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2020
Venue: Al Arabi Stadium
Al Gharafa got back to the winning path by beating Al Arabi 2-1 in Week 3 of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium on Sunday.
Jonathan Kodjia (22nd minute) and Sofiane Hanni (72nd-minute penalty) scored for Al Gharafa. Substitute Hamdi Harbaoui reduced the margin for Al Arabi in the 87th minute.
Al Gharafa had started off their campaign in the new season on a winning note, beating Qatar SC 2-0, but they lost 1-3 to Al Rayyan in Week 2. The Cheetahs, who had finished a creditable fourth in the 2019-20 season, can take the break in the tournament with a six-point cushion.
Al Arabi stayed on one point that they collected from their 2-2 draw with Al Khor in the opener.
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