QNB Stars League: Fateful Confrontations in 22nd and Last Round

Doha, March 09 (QNA) - The matches of the 22nd and final round of the Qatar Football League (QNB Stars League) for the 2021/22 season, will resolve the conflict in the golden box, and will also determine the relegated team officially to the Second Division, as well as the identity of one of the two sides of the crucial match. All four matches of tomorrow, undoubtedly, are of great importance considering the efforts of the teams to achieve their goals with the last turn in the league. However, the Al Sailiya match with Al Gharafa, hosted by Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium in Al Ahli Club, is considered the most prominent confrontation, given that both teams consider it fateful as the latter trail fourth-placed Al Arabi by three points and are keen to secure a top-four finish. Al Gharafa, under Italian Andrea Stramaccioni, have registered nine wins, as many defeats and three draws. The Cheetahs lost to Al Arabi 2-3 in Week 21 by a last-gasp goal. Al Gharafa had beaten Al Sailiya 3-0 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. Meanwhile, in the Amir Cup action last week, Al Sailiya lost 1-4 to Al Duhail, while Al Gharafa defeated Qatar SC 2-1 in the quarterfinals. For its part, Al Sailiya, under Tunisian Sami Trabelsi, are 11th in the table with 13 points (two wins, seven draws and 12 defeats) and have a goal difference of -20 (14 goals for and 34 against). Al Sailiya had strengthened their ranks in the January transfer window but are still facing relegation, having been on the same number of points as bottom-placed Al Khor. Al Sailiya are placed above Al Khor on better goal difference (-20 as against Al Khors -26). In Al Khor and Qatar SC match, which is hosted by Al Khor Stadium, the owners of the land know that the key to survival lies in beating Qatar SC, and otherwise means an official farewell and relegation to the second division after a long series of suffering over recent years. Al Khor, coached by Brazilian Andre Lima, are at the bottom of the table with 13 points (one win, 10 draws and as many defeats). The Knights, who lost 2-4 to newly crowned champions Al Sadd in Week 21, have a goal difference of -26 (20 goals for and 46 against). Al Khor has the same number of points as 11th-placed Al Sailiya but are placed behind on goal difference (-26 as against Al Sailiyas -20). Al Khor had beaten Qatar SC 2-1 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. Meanwhile, Qatar SC seeks to win to reconcile its fans. Qatar SC, who lost 1-2 to Al Rayyan in Week 21, are placed eighth with 23 points (six victories, five draws and 10 defeats). Qatar SC, under Moroccan Youssef Safri, have a goal difference of -9 (21 goals for and 30 against). Qatar SC lost 1-2 to Al Gharafa in the quarterfinals in the Amir Cup action last week, Al Khor had bowed out in the Round of 16. In the third confrontation between Al Ahli and Al Duhail at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Al Gharafa, each of them aspires to achieve a victory at the end of the league. Al Ahli are seventh in the table with 24 points (five victories, nine draws and seven defeats). The Brigadiers, coached by Montenegrin Nebojsa Jovovic, drew 2-2 with Al Sailiya in Week 21 and have a goal difference of -15 (24 goals for and 39 against). Al Duhail had beaten Al Ahli 6-0 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. On the other hand, Al Duhail, under Portuguese Luis Castro, have already made sure they would finish as runners-up. They now have 46 points. The Red Knights had played out a 1-1 draw with newly-crowned league champions Al Sadd in Week 20 and then beat Umm Salal by a 6-1 margin in Week 21. Al Duhail, who have registered 14 victories, three draws and four defeats, have a goal difference of +35 (59 goals for and 24 against). Meanwhile, in Amir Cup action last week, Al Duhail beat Al Sailiya 4-1 to reach the semifinals, while Al Ahli lost 0-4 to Al Sadd in the quarterfinals. in the fourth confrontation that brings together Al Arabi and Umm Salal at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium, which will be important for Al Arabi to confirm its presence in the Golden Square. Umm Salal, who lost 1-6 to Al Duhail in Week 21, are placed sixth with 25 points (six wins, seven draws and eight defeats). They have a goal difference of -2 (32 goals for and 34 against). It was the fifth successive loss for The Orange Fortress, coached by Wesam Rizik. On the other hand, Al Arabi have much to benefit from this match as they are currently placed fourth with 33 points (10 wins, three draws and eight defeats). Al Arabi, coached by Younes Ali, have a goal difference of +1 (32 goals for and 31 against). Al Gharafa is breathing down their neck with 30 points to finish among the top four. Umm Salal had beaten Al Arabi 2-0 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. Both Umm Salal and Al Arabi were not in the Amir Cup quarterfinal action last week as they had bowed out in the Round of 16. The matches of the 22nd and last round of the Qatar Football League will be completed with two confrontations. Al Shamal will face Al Rayyan, at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar Club, the ninth and tenth places. Al Rayyan is placed 10th with 21 points (five victories, six draws and 10 defeats). The Lions, coached by Chilean Nicolas Cordova, have a goal difference of -10 (28 goals for and 38 against). Al Rayyan is coming off a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Al Sadd in the Qatar Clasico. The match was rescheduled from Week 14 and was played on 8th March. Al Rayyan had defeated Qatar SC 2-1 in Week 21 on 1st March. Al Shamal, who beat Al Wakrah 3-0 in Week 21, are placed ninth with 22 points (six wins, four draws and 11 defeats). Hisham Zahids wards have a goal difference of -14 (30 goals for and 44 against). Al Rayyan had beaten Al Shamal 2-1 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. Meanwhile, in the Amir Cup action last week, Al Rayyan lost out in the quarterfinals, following their 4-5 tie-breaker loss to Al Wakrah (3-3 after regular time). Al Shamal had bowed out of the Amir Cup in the Round of 16 stage. In the second and final confrontation of this season, Al Sadd, the league champion, will meet with Al Wakrah, third in the standings, Al Sadd, despite having won the title, will look to set a record this season by continuing victories and maintaining its glow, especially since it did not lose any of its matches this season. For his part, Al Wakrah coach Marques Lopez knows that his team can disturb Al Sadd, especially considering the high morale of the players after they crossed the semi-finals in the Amir Cup, after they eliminated Al Rayyan on penalties 4-5, Al Sadd is coming off a 1-0 victory over Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico. The match was rescheduled from Week 14 and was played on 8th March. Al Sadd beat Al Khor 4-2 in Week 21. Al Wakrah, who lost 0-3 to Al Shamal in Week 21, are placed third with 37 points. The Blue Wave, coached by Spaniard Marquez Lopez, have registered 11 wins, four draws and six defeats, and have a goal difference of +5 (33 goals for and 28 against). Al Wakrah have assured themselves of a third place finish no matter the result of fourth-placed Al Arabi in the final round. Al Sadd had beaten Al Wakrah 6-0 in the first leg of 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League. Meanwhile, in the Amir Cup action last week, Al Sadd beat Al Ahli 4-0 and Al Wakrah beat Al Rayyan 5-4 in tiebreaker (3-3 after regular time) in the quarterfinals. The competition to escape relegation to the second division is limited to Al Sailiya and Al Khor teams, where the matches of this round will be officially determined by the relegated team, while the eleventh-placed team will play a play-off with the runner-up in the second division to determine the fate of its presence in the league. The play-off match will be held on March 19 at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Al Gharafa Club, and according to the regulations, an extra time is used if the original time of the match ends in a tie, and if the tie continues, penalty kicks will be resorted to. (QNA)