QSL league leaders Al Rayyan put in a professional display to defeat Umm Salal 2-0 at Al Gharafa stadium yesterday evening to maintain their 11—point advantage over Lekhwiya. Goals from Korean midfielder Koh Myong-jin and a 16th goal of the season from Captain Rodrego Tabata ensured all three points for the Lions.



Rayyan’s Tabata (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal against Umm Salal. PICTURE: Mamdouh

Al Rayyan opened the scoring within minutes of the restart of the second half.
Korean International Koh Myong-jin capitalized on a host of defensive errors to slot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal.
Umm Salal head coach was rightly annoyed with his side, who failed to clear the ball on three separate occasions before Koh burst through on goal.
The game did threaten to boil over at times, and it was to the credit of referee Saoud al-Athba  who marshaled the players well throughout the match.
Al Rayyan started to dominate possession, and doubled their lead in controversial circumstances.
Captain Rodrigo was adjudged to be bundled over in the penalty area by defender Rami Fayez, and the referee pointed to the spot. Rayyan’s talismanic captain stepped up to dispatch the ball past Baba Malick.
Later, defending champions Lekhwiya needed a dramatic last minute winner from Ismael Mohammed to defeat Al Kharaitiyat 3-2 in a pulsating match at Al Khor stadium.
Lekhwiya took an early lead courtesy of Mohammed Razak, a smart turn in the box evaded the oncoming Kharaitiyat defender allowing the Qatari international to smash the ball into the net from close range. Lekhwiya looked the better team in the first half, however they couldn’t convert their chances and the first half ended 1-0.
The second half started in disastrous circumstances for the Red Nights with defender Khalid Muftah heading into his own net. His misguided header looped over Lekhwiya stopper Amine Lecomte, to give Amir Osim’s side an equalizer.
Al Kharaityat kept up the pressure and where eventually rewarded on the 82nd minute. Striker Jaralla al-Marri had plenty of time and space to place his header to give the Thunders a lead in the match. The defending QSL champions went about looking for an equalizer and found one just five minutes later from an unlikely source.
Defender Mohammed Moussa tapped in at the back post from close range after a Nam Tae Hee’s free-kick was diligently flicked on by Chico Flores.
The defensive duo had linked up to give the QSL champs a deserved equalizer. Lekhwiya completed the come back on the 90th minute with a fine goal worthy of winning the game.
Moammed Razak played a smart pass to captain Karim Boudiaf. His flicked return fell into the path of attacker Ismael Mohammed, which sailed into the back of the net.
Meanwhile, Al Wakrah pulled off one of the shocks of round 16 of the QSL defeating Al Sadd 3-1 at Al Wakrah stadium.
Al Wakrah made an ideal start to proceedings when Argentine striker Sasha’s tap in effort just crossed the line to give the Blue Waves an early goal on the 8th minute.
Despite protests from the Sadd defence, the goal was rightly allowed to stand.
Shocked by the opener Sadd sprang into action, and eventually found the back of the net and a deserved equalizer from Qatari international captain Hassan al-Haydoos.
With five minutes left in the first half, the winger hit an acrobatic overhead kick from a pinpoint cross to give his side a lifeline in the match.
Many would have expected Sadd to push on in the second half, but it was the home side who edged ahead in the second half.
In the 56th minute a thunderous strike from Portugeese midfielder Rúben Amorim hit the cross bar and striker Mahir Youseff was free to nod in the rebound.
Al Sadd pushed hard for an equalizer, but Al Wakrah hit their third goal of the game on the break on the 83rd minute. A long goal kick and an uncharacteristic slip from defender Mohammed Kasola gave striker Sasha all the time in the world to grab his second goal of the match and to deservedly give Wakrah all three points.    
In the day’s other match, Qatar Sports Club and Al Arabi played out a 1-1 draw.