DOHA: Al Gharafa’s new recruit Wesley Sneijder opened his goal account in Qatar as the action-filled 13th leg of the QNB Stars League came to a close on Saturday.
There were three big-margin wins, one draw and two narrow victories as Al Duhail maintained their unbeaten streak.
Al Sadd smashed six past Al Sailiya without reply, while Al Rayyan and Al Gharafa both won 4-2 against Al Kharaitiyat and Umm Salal respectively.
Al Duhail and Qatar SC defeated Al Arabi and Al Markhiya respectively by an identical score of 1-0.
Coach Djamel Belmadi’s side have won 11 out of their 13 matches so far and have drawn two games. They have 35 points, four ahead of Al Sadd and Al Rayyan who possess 31 points each.
Al Duhail’s defensive midfielder Karim Boudiaf netted their all-important goal while the league’s top scorer Youssef El Arabi, who has scored 19 goals so far, failed to make it 20 this week.
Al Arabi’s loss saw them slip from eighth to 10th and they stood on 10 points.
Al Sadd recorded a big win on Saturday against fourth-placed Al Sailiya to increase their goal difference with third-placed Al Rayyan to six.
Algerian midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun played as striker in the company of Hassan Al Haydos as The Wolves continued to miss the services of injured Algerian ace Baghdad Bounedjah. Hamroun did not fail Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira and netted two goals to take his tally this season to six to be on par with team-mates Al Haydous and Bounedjah in a coincidence.
Al Sailiya, nevertheless, stayed fourth on 20 points, one ahead of Umm Salal, who could not add points to their account this week.
Al Gharafa’s victory was noted by Sneijder’s first goal in Qatar. Othman Al Yahri was the star of their show with one goal and an assist. The Cheetahs moved to 17 points with the back-to-back victory and remained sixth.
Al Ahli stayed seventh on 15 points after managing to hold Al Khor 2-2 with a last-gasp goal by Mohsin Al Yezeedi in an entertaining game. Al Khor jumped one place from ninth with 11 points.
Qatar SC made a big leap, from the very bottom to ninth in the table with 11 points. Brazilian striker Patrick Fabiano’s early goal did much damage to an Al Markhiya side who are back to the basement on eight points.
