WATCH: QNB Stars League - Week 5 highlights
As many as 25 goals were scored, and only one of the five matches ended in a draw, during the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League’s Week 5 matches played on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Al Sadd surged to the top of the table with 13 points following their big 7-1 victory over Al Ahli, who remained on 12 points, while Qatar SC, who were beaten 1-0 by Umm Salal on Saturday, move to the bottom.
The League is now on break due to the 2020 AFC Champions League’s East Zone matches to be hosted by Qatar next month.
Matches are expected to resume on November 21 and 22.
Below are the week’s highlights:
Al Kharaitiyat vs 2 Al Khor 1
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Venue: Al Khor Stadium
Al Kharaitiyat beat Al Khor 2-1 at the Al Khor Stadium on Monday.
Mohammed Osman (45+2) and Rachid Tiberkanine (84th minute) scored for Al Kharaitiyat. New recruit Giannis Fetfatzidis found the target for Al Khor in the 55th minute.
Promoted side Al Kharaitiyat raised their points to six with their second victory, their first being against Qatar SC in Week 2. Al Khor, who remained on three points, could not repeat their performance that helped them hold formidable Al Sadd goalless on their home turf a week ago.
Al Sailiya 4 vs Al Gharafa 2
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Venue: Al Ahli Stadium
Al Sailiya defeated Al Gharafa 4-2 at the Al Ahli Stadium on Monday.
Mohanad Ali (fifth and 71st minutes), Mohammed Mudather (45+3) and Ahmed Hammoudan (60th minute) scored for Al Sailiya.
Muad Hassan (26th minute) and Jonathan Kodjia (35th minute) found the target for Al Gharafa. Al Sailiya and Al Gharafa are now on seven and nine points respectively.
The fast-paced game saw high drama from start. The teams matched each other ball for ball. Al Sailiya started the scoring act, with Mohanad being spot-on after he was put through by Mudather. The Iraqi striker evaded the marking of Al Gharafa defender Hector Moreno before shooting the ball home.
Al Rayyan 1 vs Al Duhail 2
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2020
Venue: Al Gharafa Stadium
Holders Al Duhail defeated Al Rayyan 2-1 at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Sunday.
Eduardo Rodriguez (Dudu) and Ramin Rezaeian scored for Al Duhail in the 68th (penalty) and 90+3 minutes respectively after Al Rayyan took the lead through Yacine Brahimi in the 42nd minute.
Al Duhail raised their points tally to nine and Al Rayyan stood on seven after five rounds of action. The highlight match of Week 5 between last season’s champions and runners-up, both strong title contenders, lived up to its billing. Possession was almost even and both sides created opportunities galore.
Al Duhail produced an improved performance in the second half as they fought back from a first-half deficit to win by a last-gasp goal, which came off a free-kick.
Al Ahli 1 vs Al Sadd 7
Date: Sunday, October 25, 2020
Venue: Al Ahli Stadium
Al Sadd had it easy against Al Ahli, winning 7-1, at the Al Ahli Stadium on Sunday.
Hashem Ali (fifth and 36th minutes), Rodrigo Tabata (13th), Akram Afif (30th), Santi Cazorla (45th), Nam Tae-Hee (58th) and Ahmed Sayyar (90+1) scored for Al Sadd, who moved on to 13 points with their fourth victory to top the table by surpassing Al Ahli.
Nabil El Zhar gave Al Ahli’s lone reply in the 54th minute. The only time The Wolves dropped points was when they were held goalless by Al Khor in Week 4.
The result also broke Al Ahli’s all-win record that stretched to four matches. The Brigadiers remained on 12 points. Al Sadd thus built on their 3-1 victory over strong title rivals Al Duhail in the midweek, in a match that was postponed from Week 3 due to both teams’ participation in the 2020 AFC Champions League.
Qatar SC 0 vs Umm Salal 1
Date: Saturday October 24, 2020
Venue: Qatar SC Stadium
Umm Salal defeated Qatar SC 1-0 at the Qatar SC Stadium on Saturday.
Ismail Mahmoud netted the all-important goal in the 57th minute as Umm Salal registered their first victory and took their points tally to four.
Going into the match, Umm Salal, under the tutelage of their former defender Aziz Ben Askar, had only one point. However, the revamped side put up an improved performance.
Qatar SC, coached by former Qatar international midfielder Younis Ali, remained on three points.
Al Wakrah 2 vs Al Arabi 2
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020
Venue: Qatar SC Stadium
Al Wakrah and Al Arabi were locked in an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Qatar SC Stadium on Saturday.
Al Wakrah were helped by an own goal by Al Arabi’s Khalaf Sadd in the 59th minute. Mohamed Benyettou scored their other goal in the 88th minute.
Mehrdad Mohammadi (73rd and 90+5 minute penalty) scored Al Arabi’s goals.
Al Wakrah and Al Arabi now have seven and five points respectively.
Just like they pulled off a 2-1 victory over Umm Salal right at the death last week, Al Arabi this time earned a well-fought draw with a stoppage-time goal that came in the form of a penalty.
---
Make sure to check out our social media to keep track of the latest content.
Instagram - @qatarliving
Twitter - @qatarliving
Facebook - Qatar Living
YouTube - qatarlivingofficial
