02 Feb 2018 – 0:00
The Peninsula
DOHA: Experienced Moroccan midfielder Tiberkanine Rachid yesterday produced two classy goals to help Al Kharaitiyat hold a powerful Al Sailiya side to a 2-2 draw.
Wagner Ribeiro (35) and a powerful long-range shot by Magidi Sideeq (58) twice gave Al Sailiya the lead. However, tireless Rachid produced a brace (45 and 85) to help his side share points at Al Khor Stadium.
Following a cagey start yesterday, Al Sailiya showed slick moves threatening the Al Kharaitiyat backline in the first 15 minutes of the match though the teams split the ball possession stats at Al Khor Stadium.
With stakes high in the match, Al Kharaitiyat coach Mustafa Souiheb made an early substitution bringing in Abdulla Hussain in place of Abdulaziz Rashid in just the 25th minute.
It wasn’t long before the fans witnessed the opening goal in the first half as Wagner broke the deadlock in the 35th minute after numerous attempts by Al Sailiya at the Al Kharaitiyat goal. After a goalmouth melee, Wagner produced a classy left-footed driver that crashed into the net after defeating a host of Al Kharaitiyat players close to the close-line. Two minutes from the first-half whistle, Wagner wasted an easy opportunity to score from close range when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.
In injury time, Al Kharaitiyat pulled of a spectacular equaliser. Anouar Diba clipped a cross for Rachid who flicked the ball into the net with the minutest of angles to work on from the edge of the Al Sailiya box. It was Rachid’s 9th goal of the season.
In the 52nd minute, Al Sailiya’s Temerkhuja Abdulkholikov clipped a ball from close range but the ball sailed above the Al Kharaitiyat’s crossbar.
Six minutes later, Al Sailiya scored their second goal when Sadeeq found the net from long range in the 58th minute.
Five minutes from the final whistle, Rachid flicked a ball into the net on a cross from Mohammed Al Yazidi to bring Al Kharaitiyat level with Al Sailiya.
Meanwhile, Qatar SC coach Abdullah Mubarak said tomorrow’s Al Sadd game will be a tough task for his team.
“Al Sadd are coming off two big victories and we must be wary of them. We have to perform in the best possible way. Our players are all staying focused ahead of the big match,” he said.
“The competition is tough with five or six teams fighting to avoid relegation. If you lose two games, you can get relegated,” added Abdullah.
