A brace by Romarinho proved to be the difference as table-toppers El Jaish brushed aside the Al Shahania challenge 3-1 in their round seven match of the Qatar Stars League yesterday.
The soldiers stamped their authority with their first goal courtesy of their Brazilian sensation Romarinho. The striker won a free kick outside the box; the resulting strike from Romarinho saw the ball sail over the wall into the top left corner of the goal to give Jaish an early lead.
Then towards the end of the first half, Sabri Lamouchi’s side doubled their lead. Murrad Naji’s spectacular long-range strike swerved in the air before finding the back of the net. El Jaish controlled most of the first half and Shahania had a couple of chances but did little to trouble Saoud al-Khater in the El Jaish goal.
The second half was much more positive for Shahania as they pushed forward looking to get some goals. They were rewarded for their efforts when in the 54th minute Mohamed Tiaiba won a penalty for Shahania after he was fouled by Abdurahman Abubakar in the box. Tiaiba then stepped up to take the penalty and while his initial effort was saved by El Jaish’s keeper al-Khater, the ball ricocheted off the keeper’s back and Tiaiba scored at the second attempt.
Later on, in the 80th minute, El Jaish won a penalty of their own after Romarinho was brought down by Alvaro Meijia. The Brazilian then scored his second of the night after converting from the spot, slotting the ball to the right as the keeper went the wrong way.
The visitors received their second penalty of the night in the 87th minute after Abdulrahman Issa gave away the spotkick. However, the Oryxes could not capitalise as Fahad Khalfan sent the ball over the bar to keep the score at 3-1.

Wakrah, Sadd Share points
A late penalty by Mouhcine Moutouali yesterday evening helped Al Wakrah snatch a point against former QSL champions Al Sadd. Al Wakrah, trailed by a goal following a strike by Al Sadd midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun, but eventually drew level with a penalty on the 90th minute, which was dispatched by Moutouali.
In the 6th minute, Al Wakrah’s Hamood al-Yazidi broke free off his marker and charged into the Al Sadd box in what was the first serious attempt at either goal. In a hurried attempt at Al Sadd goal, al-Yazidi unleashed a shot that was punched away by Sadd goalkeeper Saad al-Dosari.
Playing in all-white, Al Sadd looked tad edgy with hosts Al Wakrah mounting attacks on the former QSL champions in the first 10 minutes of the round 7 clash at Al Wakrah Stadium. However, the momentum swung towards Al Sadd soon afterwards.
In the 15th minute, Al Sadd’s defender Pedro Correia charged into Al Wakrah box from the the flank before slipping in a neat ball to Baghdad Bounedjah. Stationed inside Al Wakrah box, the 24-year-old Algerian deflected the ball over the crossbar with home goalkeeper Mohmad Enyas well beaten.
Two minutes later, Al Sadd’s number three Abdulkareem Hassan showed brilliant pace to beat his marker and charged into the Al Wakrah box. Once in the box, Hassan – the Qatar Under-23 team captain – fired a powerful shot that was well pouched by goalkeeper Enyas.
Al Sadd were the dominant side in the first half, and could have headed into the break with a lead, but Bagdad Bounedjah’s free-kick sailed over the Wakrah crossbar at the end of the half. The first half ended honours even at 0-0.
At the half-hour mark, Al Sadd drew first blood. Jugurtha fired home from close range after a loose ball dropped dead in front of him following a goal-line melee after an indirect free-kick. It was Jugurtha’s second goal of the season that came at the right time for Al Sadd.
Despite dominating the game, Al Sadd handed Al Wakrah a lifeline in the final minutes of the tie, conceding a penalty.
Moroccan striker Mouhcine Moutouali stepped up for his side. Moutaouali held his nerve and chose to go left of al-Dosari as Al Wakrah and new coach Kais Yaakoubi snatched a point in the dying moments of the game leaving a forlorn looking Al Sadd coach Ferreira with hands on his hips.