Action from the Amir Cup match between Al Khor and Al Wakra at Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday.
A brace from Yannick Sagbo and a goal from Mahmoud Kamal Almawas helped Umm Salal to register a resounding 3-1 win over Second Division side Al Shamal while Al Khor defeated Al Wakra 4-3 in penalty shoot-out to qualify for the third round of the Amir Cup.
In matches played yesterday at the Al Gharafa Stadium, Umm Salal struck twice within a span of nine minutes through Sagbo to get a firm foothold over the proceedings.
The Barzan’s Falcons struck the third time in the match in the second session to take the match beyond the reach of Al Shamal.
Although Al Shamal pulled one back in the 65th minute, they could not make much of a comeback.
Umm Salal will take on Al Arabi in the next round match.
Umm Salal meant business right from kick off and struck in the tenth minute through a combined move between Sagbo and Almawas, the last named beat his marker and put Sagbo in the clear.
With no marker in sight, Al Shamal keeper Shaheen Ghanem Al Kuwari rushed out to challenge Sagbo and was successful in blocking the striker’s effort but off the rebound the goalkeeper could not much with Sagbo coolly rolling the ball past the two Al Shamal defenders guarding the goal.
Umm Salal continued to dictate terms and were successful in breaking open the rival defense for the second time in the match in the 19th minute. Sagbo, who troubled the rival defenders with his speedy runs and quick body feints, got into the scoring act for the second time in the match. The Ivory Coast striker beat the off side trap of a long pass and ended up chipping the ball over the advancing keeper into the unguarded goal.
In the second half, Umm Salal had the match under their control and increased the lead in the eight minute of the second half.
Almawas, who had a hand in the first goal got his name on the scorers list, by finishing of a good move which started from deep inside the Umm Salal half.
Down by three goals, Al Shamal did not throw in the towel and managed to pull one back in the 65th minute through Abdul Aziz Humaid Al Maqbali.
The second match played at the same venue between Al Wakra and Al Khor ended in a two-all draw and the penalty shoot-out had to be applied to break the deadlock.
Al Khor kept their cool to advance to the next round where they will clash with Al Gharafa.
In today’s matches, Second Division side Muaither SC will take on against Qatar SC, a repeat of Wednesday’s QSL play-off match, which Qatar SC won 1-0 to retain their place in QSL.
In the other match, another Second Division side Al Markhiya SC will meet Al Kharaitiyat SC, which finished last in QSL and got relegated to next year’s Second Division League.
