Alkass Digital
Al Duhail beat Al Arabi 3-2 in Round 2, Group B of the 2022-2023 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Wakrah Stadium on Monday.
Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga continued from where he left off in their Round 1 match against Al Markhiya, where he scored a hat-trick in their 8-3 victory. The Kenyan striker did an encore this time by scoring The Red Knights’ all three goals (second, 61st and 70th minutes).
Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (53rd minute) and Hamed Ismail (85th-minute penalty) scored for Al Arabi.
Al Duhail thus moved on to six points, while Al Arabi stood on three points from their 1-0 victory over Al Shamal in Round 1.
Al Markhiya, Al Shamal, Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan are the other teams in Group B.
Group A consists of Al Sadd, Al Wakrah, Umm Salal, Al Ahli, Qatar SC and Al Sailiya.
It was an encounter between teams who are in the top rung of 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League, which has taken a break.
While Al Arabi are topping the league table with 16 points, Al Duhail are third with 14 points after seven weeks of action.
Interestingly, Al Duhail had prevailed over Al Arabi in the league championship 3-0 and it has been the only loss of the season so far for Younes Ali’s wards.
Olunga started the scoring act as early as the second minute.
Al Arabi tried to hit back and Abdullah Al Muraisi’s shot in the 16th minute got deflected out.
Al Arabi’s Rafael Alcantara made an unsuccessful attempt in the 19th minute and Al Muraisi’s rising shot in the last minute of first half flew over as Al Arabi trailed by a goal at half-time.
The Dream Team, however, equalized not long after resumption through Ibrahim Nasser. But that was all they could do as Olunga struck twice more for The Red Knights, coached by Hernan Crespo.
A late goal scored by Hamed Ismail from the penalty spot did not help them stop their rivals from sealing the issue.
Al Arabi’s Rami Suhail soon had a chance to help his team draw level, but he sent a feeble shot straight to goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy.
Meanwhile, Al Shamal and Al Gharafa settled for a 0-0 draw in Round 2, Group B of the 2022-2023 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Monday.
Al Markhiya, Al Rayyan, Al Duhail and Al Arabi are the other teams in Group B.
Group A consists of Al Sadd, Al Wakrah, Umm Salal, Al Ahli, Qatar SC and Al Sailiya.
Both Al Gharafa and Al Shamal strived hard to break the deadlock, but the attack of either side lacked bite in their finish and also their respective defence stood well.
In their first-round matches - Al Shamal had lost 0-1 to Al Arabi while Al Gharafa had defeated Al Rayyan 4-3.
The result saw Al Shamal log their first point, while Al Gharafa moved on to four points.
Al Shamal came close to scoring in the 15th minute when Yacine Bammou had a good shot at the goal, but Al Gharafa goalkeeper Qasem Burhan made a good save.
Al Gharafa then made a good move in the 27th minute, with Ishaq Belfodil making a good pass to Muyad Hassan, but his kick was cut off just in front of the goal.
In the 36th minute, Al Shamal midfielder Salah Al Yahri had a good chance, but his shot did not have enough power to beat the goalkeeper on the left of the goal.
Soon in the second half, Farid Boulaya of Al Gharafa had a clear shot at the goal, but he shot wide.
Midway through the second session, Al Gharafa’s substitute Amro Seraj could not make good of a chance created inside the box.