DOHA (Qatar): Qatar SC overcame Al Wakrah 1-0 in the Qatar Stars League match at their home ground on Saturday.
New recruit Mohammed Youcef Belaili (17th-minute penalty) scored the only goal of the match. The second win took Qatar SC’s points tally to six, whereas Al Wakrah stood on seven points.
Belaili found Anthony Okpotu with a neat low cross close to the Al Wakrah box. After receiving the ball, the Nigerian striker surged ahead to shoot, but was brought down by Brazilian defender Lucas Mendes with a rough push.
Referee Nayef Al Kadiri immediately pointed to the spot and showed a yellow to Mendes in what was a fast-paced first half for both sides.
Belaili calmly beat keeper Saoud Al Khater, slamming the ball past his right hand, for his first goal of the new season. And Qatar SC fans celebrated in the stands.
Five minutes before the end of first half, Murad Naji of Al Wakrah curled in a beautiful long-range cross, but his captain Mohamed Benyettou narrowly missed his target with his air-borne snap-header.
At the end of first-half action, Al Wakrah enjoyed 54 per cent of possession. Despite fierce battle, constant stoppages slowed down the pace of both sides close to the end of first half.
In the 58th minute, Qatar SC’s Ahmed Fadhil Hesaba fired a long-range shot – taken from the edge of the box – that was saved by the Al Wakrah goalkeeper with a dive to his right.
In the 86th minute, Qatar SC’s Ali Karimi curled in a long-range cross for Elmehdi Barrahma, camped inside a crowded Al Wakrah box. Elmehdi’s slick header from close range was well blocked by keeper Al Khater.
