Alkass Digital
Al Duhail defeated Al Ahli 4-0 in Week 22 (final round) of the 2020-21 season QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium on Friday.
Eduardo Rodriguez, nicknamed Dudu, (35th and 89th minutes) and Michael Olunga (54th and 83rd minutes) scored the goals as Al Duhail finished their campaign with 47 points, 13 less than new champions Al Sadd who beat Qatar SC by a 3-0 margin in a simultaneous kick-off.
Al Duhail had ensured the runners-up finish this season after Week 20 action.
It was The Red Knights’ 15th victory, while Al Ahli crashed to their ninth defeat.
Al Ahli, in fourth position going into the match, attacked from the word go in their bid to end up the season among the top four and thus nurture hopes of playing in the AFC Champions League.
The Brigadiers made many forays initially, but it was Al Duhail who scored off their first real chance as Dudu headed in Ismail Mohammed’s cross from the right flank. Dudu deserved more credit for the goal as he had given the pass to Ismail from the centre while on the run with the ball before he positioned himself at the goal to be on hand to score.
Al Duhail’s Khaled Mohammed’s long-range grounder was pouched by Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim.
Al Duhail came closest again at the stroke of half-time whistle, but Ali Afif’s header from close off Dudu’s free-kick was parried by the goalkeeper.
Al Ahli’s closest chance in the first half was when Nasser Saleh’s bicycle kick went narrowly wide.
Al Ahli resumed after the break with a surge and captain Omid Ebrahimi hit a long-ranger wide.
Al Duhail then made a couple of substitutions, with Luis Martin coming in for Ismail Mohammed and Jassim Al Mehairi replacing Sultan Al Breik.
However, Olunga soon made it 2-0 and added another, which was his team’s third goal, as Al Ahli ran out of steam.
Dudu rounded off the tally as the game drew towards a close and Al Duhail sealed yet another victory.
Al Duhail had beaten Al Ahli 5-3 in the first leg of 2020-21 season QNB Stars League.