Al Rayyan Top of League after Crushing Win

Doha, September 22 (QNA) - Al Rayyan on Saturday crushed Umm Salal 5-0 for their second successive win in Qatar Stars League (QSL). Brazilian import Nilmar Da Silva posted the season's first hattrick (6, 33 and 90 + 3) while captain Fabio Cesar added one in the 31st minute. Striker Rodrigo Tabata scored off a penalty in the 50th minute to round off Al Rayyan's hugely successful day at Al Rayyan Satdium. Nilmar put Al Rayyan ahead in just the sixth minute, taking the ball outside the Umm Salal box and shooting past a diving goalkeeper. In the 30th minute, Umm Salal's Ismael Banghoura curled in a beautiful shot but the ball was parried away to safety with a full-length dive by Al Rayyan goalkeeper Barry. A minute later, Al Rayyan went 2-0 up. Captain Cesar - after collecting the ball around 50 meters away from the goal-line - charged into Umm Salal box and then unleashed a powerful drive. The ball hit the far post and curled in after leaving the Umm Salal goalkeeper Mohammed Aneas looking helpless. In the 33rd minute, Al Rayyan added to Umm Salal's woes by firing a third. Cesar found Tabata unmarked near the Umm Salal box. Tabata found Nilmar inside the box and the Brazilian easily flicked one past goalkeeper Aneas. Soon after the break Tabata made it 4-0, scoring off a penalty in the 50th minute. In the dying minutes, Nilma produced a header from close range for his side's fifth goal. (QNA)