Super-Sub Younis Fires Brace As Al Ahli Shock Al Gharafa

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Fawad Hussain | The Peninsula

Doha, Qatar: Substitute Younis Abdelrahman scored twice as Al Ahli stunned title contenders Al Gharafa 4-1, giving their fight to avoid relegation a major boost in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) yesterday.

The comeback victory lifted the Younes Ali-coached team to 10th place with 19 points, one ahead of 11th-placed Al Sailiya, who edged Al Shahania 3-2 in an exciting match. Al Shahania dropped to the bottom of the table with 17 points after the loss.

Al Gharafa’s second straight loss hurt their title hopes, but coach Pedro Martins hopes his team can bounce back in the remaining three matches. The team is four points behind league leaders Al Sadd, who top the standings with 38 points, and are tied on points with Al Shamal, who have a game in hand.

In another match yesterday, Qatar SC and Umm Salal played to a goalless draw. Qatar SC moved up to 28 points in fifth place, while Umm Salal remains ninth with 20 points.

The matches were briefly interrupted due to an increased security threat, with authorities ensuring everyone’s safety.

Younis turns the tide for Al Ahli

At Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Al Gharafa’s Joselu failed to capitalize on a defensive mistake, heading the ball over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat, while Julian Draxler of Al Ahli had a goal disallowed for offside early in the first half.

Al Gharafa eventually took the lead in the 28th minute when Yacine Brahimi converted a penalty after Tilal Ali fouled Aron Gunnarsson, with VAR confirming the foul.

Draxler avoided a red card after a VAR review for an apparent elbow on Florinel Coman while contesting the ball.

Substitute Younis made an immediate impact in the second half, bringing Al Ahli back into the game shortly after the break by finishing from the center of the box after a brilliant angled pass from Sekou Yansane.

William Troost-Ekong, left unmarked, put Al Ahli ahead in the 59th minute, volleying home a close-range cross from Driss Fettouhi.

Michel Vlap extended the lead three minutes before the end, calmly converting a penalty after Younis was fouled by Ahmed Al-Ali.

Younis then sealed a convincing victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time, finishing one-on-one with goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar.

Umm Salal, Qatar SC share points

In a cautious first half between Umm Salal and Qatar SC at Khalifa International Stadium, Jean Evrard Kouassi failed to put Umm Salal ahead, missing two great chances in quick succession.

He first shot wide from close range before shooting straight at the goalkeeper in a one-on-one, and the match went into halftime scoreless.

Neither team could break the deadlock in the second half, and the game ended in a draw.

Al Sailiya edges Al Shahania in thriller

At Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Sailiya started strongly, with Diogo Amaro heading home a free kick in the second minute. Five minutes later, Matias Nani doubled the lead with a close-range header from a corner.

Alvaro Sanz scored for Al Shahania in the 59th minute, but Younes Belhanda restored Al Sailiya’s two-goal lead with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Abdoulaye Traore made it 3-2 in the 71st minute, finishing a sliding shot from a cross by Daoud Soliman.

Al Sailiya held onto their lead despite a late setback, as Omar Yahya received a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The QSL will resume on April 3 with Round 20 matches.

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