Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Markhiya escaped relegation and clinched the relegation play-off spot with a fighting 1-1 draw against Umm Salal in the final and Week 22 match of Expo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium on Sunday.
While Kenji Gorre struck the opening goal for Umm Salal in the 7th minute of the match, the crucial equalizer for Al Markhiya came from Driss Fettouhi in the 33rd minute.
Al Markhiya thereon did well to defend their citadel and ensure a stalemate. With Muaither going down 3-4 to Al Arabi in the other Week 22 match played simultaneously, Al Markhiya’s passage became clear.
Al Markhiya ended the league championship in the 11th place in the rankings with 18 points (with 5 wins, 3 draws and 14 losses) while Umm Salal finished in seventh place with 28 points (7 wins, 7 draws and 8 losses).
Muaither finished at the bottom in 12th place with 14 points (3 wins, 5 draws and 14 losses).
Umm Salal began the clash against Al Markhiya on a bright note when their Gambian forward Nije got to a long ball following a counter. Unmarked on the left and inside the box, he gave little chance to the defenders as he struck on the bounce into the far right corner.
Al Markhiya then showed superb resilience as they matched their rivals looking to attack and soon they got the opportunity as Talal Al Shila crossed over the ball from the right flank to Fettouhi in the centre, who moved to the left before sending in a powerful left-foot kick which swung into the right corner of the net.
It was the Moroccan midfielder Fettouhi’s fourth goal of the season and one of the most important ones for Al Markhiya.
Al Markhiya will now play the relegation play-off match against Al Shahania, the result of which will decide which team stays in the league.
Al Rayyan beat Al Sadd 4-0
Al Rayyan upstaged champions Al Sadd 4-0 in the final Week 22 match of Expo Stars League on their home turf at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
The 15th win of the season for the Lions, the same number as that of Al Sadd, saw them finish the league championship with a tally of 47 points, two less than that of The Wolves who claimed the Falcon Shield last week.
The goals for Al Rayyan came from Roger Guedes (15th minute), Rodrigo Moreno (50th minute), Gabriel Pereira (89th minute) and Ahmed Al Rawi (90+3 minute).
The runners-up finish in the league for Al Rayyan also means that they have made the grade for AFC Champions League Qualifiers.
Belhanda strike helps Al Shamal beat Al Gharafa 1-0
Al Shamal registered a season-ending 1-0 win over Al Gharafa in the Week 22 match of 2023-2024 football season Expo Stars League at the Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday.
Al Shamal’s winner was scored by Younes Belhanda in 45+3 minute of the match and took the team’s points tally to 25 and saw them finish the league championship in ninth place in the overall standings.
Al Gharafa ended up as the third best team with 44 points while Al Wakrah with 38 points are fourth. The top four teams (along with champions Al Sadd) qualify for the Qatar Cup.
In the other games of the day, Qatar SC beat Al Duhail 4-2, A;l Arabi beat Muaither 4-3, and Al Ahli beat Al Wakrah 1-0.
