QSL
Goalkeeper Mohammed Al Bakri was the hero of the night as Al Wakrah defeated Al Rayyan 2-0 in Week 5 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.
The Al Wakrah shot stopper made a series of daring saves as Jacinto Dala (seventh minute) and Ricardo Gomes (36th minute) secured the needed goals to move The Blue Wave to eight points in the standings, while Al Rayyan remained on six points.
Al Wakrah, who lost 0-2 to Al Duhail in Week 4, got off to a dream start with Dala taking full advantage of a mistake by Al Rayyan’s Julien de Sart, whose unintended pass in midfield found Hamdi Fathi. The Egyptian international then made a short pass to Dala, who spectacularly finished off the move with a 25-yard thunderous strike to give them an early lead.
Stunned by the deficit, The Lions roared into action in search of a quick equalizer, but the rock-solid defence of Al Wakrah, led by experienced Abdelkarim Hassan, was seemingly impenetrable for the hosts.
Roger Guedes had a great opportunity at restoring parity for his side in the 24th minute after being perfectly set up by Gabriel Pereira, but the Brazilian forward mistimed his runs, enabling goalkeeper Al Bakri to make a timely intervention.
Ayoub Assal could have increased Al Wakrah’s lead in the 29th minute after an inch-perfect overhead pass by Gomes, but onrushing goalkeeper Samy Beldi was quicker to reach the ball, thereby curtailing him.
Gomes eventually extended The Blue Wave’s lead seven minutes later after nodding home a brilliant pass by Hassan from an unmarked position inside Al Rayyan’s 18-yard box to give his team a clear lead going into half-time.
Al Wakrah continued from where they stopped on resumption of the second half as they relentlessly launched waves of attacks against Al Rayyan.
The Lions were, however, unlucky not to cut the deficit in the 56th minute when a free-kick from Egyptian loanee Mahmoud Trezeguet was almost finding the net if not for the sharp reflexes of Al Bakri, who made a low diving push for a corner kick that was eventually not converted.
Despite Al Rayyan’s many attempts at goal, goalkeeper Al Bakri stood up against their wishes with a series of daring and brilliant saves as he ensured that his team finished with the maximum points in their kitty.