Al Rayyan Beat Qatar SC to Pick Up First Points

Doha, September 16 (QNA) - Al Rayyan on Sunday edged past Qatar SC 2-1 to pick up first points in the new Qatar Stars League (QSL) season that got underway a day earlier. Mohammed Talib Afifa (36) and Nilmar Dal Silva (46) scored for the winners. Former Lekhwiya striker Mohammed Razzaq pulled one back for Qatar SC in the 60th minute. In just the third minute, Bakari Kone hoodwinked his marker and fired a shot from the edge of the box but Al Rayyan goalkeeper Omar Bari was alert enough to punch the ball away. Six minutes later, Razzaq went long range with his powerful shot but the ball nearly clipped the goalpost with keeper Bari well beaten by the pace. In the next few minutes, Yousef Safri of Qatar SC pounded Al Rayyan box twice and on both occasions failed to provide finishing touches to the moves. The first 25 minutes clearly showed that Qatar SC held the upper hand. However, in the 26th minute, Al Rayyan striker Rodrigo Tabata flicked one from close range but the swing on the ball took the all above the crossbar. With 9 minutes before the end of the first half, Tabata curled in a free-kick for Afifa who produced a weak header close to the goalline for his side s first goal of the match. With barely 30 seconds into the second half, Nilmar scored his first for Al Rayyan with an easy passage past goalkeeper Mohammed Mubarek. Sayed Hadi who was marking Nilmar - near his own box - all of a sudden pulled a hamstring and stopped lame. But an unmakred Nilmar quickly collected the long ball and easy fired home from inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat. Injured Hadi was immediately taken off. In the 60th minute, Qatar SC pulled a goal back through Razzaq who went to the right of Al Rayyan goalkeeper Bari. (QNA)