Al Rayyan Beat Umm Salal, Al Gharafa Defeat Al Ahli in Ooredoo Cup Round 5

Doha, November 10 (QNA) - Al Rayyan blanked Umm Salal 2-0 in Round 5 (Group B) of 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Arabi Stadium on Monday. Johan Boli (58th-minute penalty) and substitute Ali Ferydoon (79th minute) scored for Al Rayyan, who ended up their group engagements with seven points. Umm Salal stood on four points. Al Rayyan had more of the ball in the first half (62 per cent) and had some chances. Mowafak Awad made two attempts at the goal and Abdulaziz Hazaa one. At the other end, Umm Salals Lawrence Quayes free-kick hit the defensive wall and the ball went out. Al Rayyan were in good spirit in the second half too. Bolis shot off a cross from the right by Mohammed Alaaeldin was blocked by Umm Salal goalkeeper Samy Habib. Al Rayyans persistent efforts saw them take the lead as Boli converted a penalty awarded when Gabriel Mercados header hit the hand of Umm Salals Omar Yahya. Ferydoon, who came in for Mohammed Alaaeldin in the second half, doubled the lead with a brilliant shot that went in after hitting the right post, Abdulrahman Al Harazi setting him up with good work along the right flank. Meanwhile, Al Gharafa defeated Al Ahli 3-0 in Round 5 (Group B) of 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Khor Stadium on Monday. The commanding win saw Al Gharafa top Group B with 13 points as the tournament enters the knockout stage. Saied Elhag Eisa (third minute), Othman Al Yahri (10th minute) and Sofiane Hanni (68th minute) scored the goals. Al Gharafa grabbed the lead when Abdulghani Muneer beautifully curled in a free-kick and Saied found the target with a snap-header after outpacing Al Ahli defender Shane Lowry. Al Gharafa doubled their lead through Al Yahri, who exhibited good speed near the Al Ahli box. After receiving a loopy cross a few metres away from the edge of Al Ahli box, Al Yahri outpaced Mohammed Al Naimi before rifling in a low shot with his right foot. In the 20th minute, Al Ahlis Hazem Shehata fired a left-footed low drive that beat Al Gharafa keeper Salah Zakaria Hassan, but the ball got ricocheted off the post. Twelve minutes later, Al Ahlis Abdulrasheed Umaru took aim at the Al Gharafa goal from close range, but misfired with his effort despite having ample space to find the net. Al Gharafas third goal came after Al Ahli defender Ibrahim Majed produced a clumsy sliding tackle on Hanni close to the box. Hanni survived the tackle and charged into the box. Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim stepped out to block the move, but Hanni calmly slotted the ball home. (QNA)