DOHA (Qatar): Al Rayyan overcame Al Wakrah 1-0 in the fourth round match at the Qatar Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Monday.
Yohan Boli netted the all-important goal in the 49th minute as Al Rayyan, the previous season’s league runners-up, now have seven points.
Al Wakrah stood on six points.
Al Rayyan were held 1-1 by Al Sailiya in their opener, but they put that defeat behind them by defeating Al Gharafa 3-1.
However, The Lions, coached by Uruguayan Diego Aguirre, lost 0-1 to Qatar SC in Week 3 after which the QNB Stars League took a break.
Al Wakrah, who upset reigning champions Al Duhail 1-0 in Week 2, had lost 1-2 to Al Ahli in their opener, but beat Umm Salal 2-0 in Week 3.
Not many opportunities came the teams’ way in a barren first half.
Boli headed against the right post off a free-kick by Brahimi in the 37th minute.
Four minutes later, Al Wakrah’s spearhead Mohamed Benyettou hit the side-netting off a rebound from the left upright.
Al Rayyan upped their ante in the second and were soon rewarded as Boli was spot-on for a pass from Naif Abdulraheem, giving goalkeeper Saoud Al Khater no chance.
The Ivory Coast striker attempted a similar shot in the 66th minute, but the ball went over the bar.
Al Wakrah’s Omar Ali came up with a header in the 82nd minute, too feeble to test Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahad Younis.
Al Wakrah desperately sought an equaliser, which never came.
Deep into stoppage time when Al Wakrah threw everything into attack, Al Rayyan’s Abdulaziz Hatem scored a goal off a counter-attack, but was disallowed for offside. (Source: QSL)
