Tribune News Network
Doha
A stoppage-time equalizer from Kenji Gorre rescued a point for Umm Salal and threw a spanner in the works of their fancied rivals as Al Gharafa were held to a 1-1 draw in a Week 20 clash of the Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium on Sunday.
Gorre scored in 90+3 minute after Ferjani Sassi had given Al Gharafa the lead in the 65th minute.
The result saw Al Gharafa, who were aiming to go equal with leaders Al Sadd, gaining just one point to remain in second pot with 41 points, while Umm Salal are eighth with 21 points.
The other match of the evening, saw Al Rayyan edge Muaither 1-0 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium and move into third place with a tally of 38 points. Al Wakrah with 37 are fourth in the table.
Against Umm Salal, the Cheetahs had their first big chance in the 7th minute when Ahmed Alaaeldin’s right-footed shot narrowly grazed the upright on its way out after a timely set up by Yacine Brahimi.
With a goalless first half, the spectators did not have to wait too long as Al Gharafa scoring through Sassi, who beautifully hammered home from 25 yards out in the 65th minute much to the joy of the team’s fans.
When it seemed that Al Gharafa would be going home with the maximum points, a series of dramatic events in the dying minutes changed the dynamics, and it ended with Gorre getting the equalizer in added time, following a fast counter-attack.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan upstaged Muaither 1-0 for a valuable win at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.
The Lions’ win was realized through an alert strike from Achraf Bencharki in the 29th minute of the match. And while Muaither, who otherwise gave a good account of themselves throughout against the fancied rivals, did try their best to fetch the equalizer it remained elusive.
The result saw Al Rayyan move into third with 38 points while Muaither still remain in eleventh place with 14 points.
Muaither’s hopes were, dashed when Al Rayyan won a free kick almost thirty yards away from the box.Rodrigo Tabata, who took the kick, sent the ball into the centre of the danger zone and Yazan Al Arab reached high with his left foot and in the process unsighted an advancing Rodriguesdos as the ball fell to an unmarked Bencharki who gleefully made a high-centre into the goal with a left kick.
