Qatar SC secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Al Shahania on Friday at Al Khor Stadium in the opening match of Week 16 of the Doha Bank Stars League.
Naif Hadhrami, Ahmed Rawi, Faiz Selemani and Brazilian striker Joao Pedro scored for Qatar SC in the 57th, 68th, 69th and 90+1 minutes respectively. Al Shahania’s goals came from Ivorian forward Abdoulaye Traore (24’), Lotfi Madjer (45+1’) and Mohammed Badr Sayyar, who converted from close range after a saved penalty in the 82nd minute.
The win marked Qatar SC’s second victory in their last three matches, lifting them to 24 points and temporarily into fifth place. Al Shahania suffered a third successive defeat and remain bottom with 11 points.
Al Shahania started brightly, combining defensive discipline with purposeful attacking play. Traore fired narrowly wide in the 10th minute before Jawad El Yamiq sent an effort over the bar six minutes later.Their pressure paid off in the 24th minute when Madjer set up Traore, who finished confidently to give Al Shahania the lead.
The visitors continued to threaten and were initially awarded a penalty following a challenge on Dutch defender Van Beek, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review in the 30th minute.
Qatar SC gradually grew into the contest. Ibrahim Massoud came close to equalising in the 39th minute, only to see his low drive strike the post. Al Shahania responded swiftly, with Madjer delivering a cross that Badr Sayyar headed against the crossbar in the 43rd minute.
In first-half stoppage time, Al Shahania doubled their advantage. Traore broke through the defence and squared the ball to Madjer, who finished from close range to give his side a 2-0 lead at the break.Qatar SC emerged for the second half with renewed urgency and reduced the deficit in the 57th minute when Hadhrami converted after Joao Pedro’s initial effort was blocked.
Momentum shifted rapidly. Substitute Rawi levelled in the 68th minute with a powerful strike after a defensive clearance fell kindly to him. A minute later, Comorian forward Selemani completed the turnaround with a long-range effort that the goalkeeper failed to keep out, putting Qatar SC 3-2 ahead.
Al Shahania pressed for an equaliser and were awarded a penalty after Ali Saudi fouled Dutch forward Bertus Amerfoort. Although the goalkeeper saved the initial spot kick, Badr Sayyar reacted quickest to convert the rebound in the 82nd minute.With the match seemingly heading for a draw, Joao Pedro struck in stoppage time, latching onto a through ball behind the defence and calmly finishing to seal a thrilling win for Qatar SC.
