Day: September 22, 2024

Doha: Three matches will take place Monday in the second round of the Qatari Men’s Handball League for the 2024/2025 season, with Al-Sadd facing Al-Duhail, Qatar SC meeting Al-Shamal, and Al-Khor taking on Al-Rayan.

Meanwhile, the matches between Al-Wakrah and Al-Ahli as well as Al-Arabi and Al-Gharafa have been postponed due to the participation of Al-Ahli and Al-Gharafa in the ongoing 39th Arab Men’s Handball Club Championship, League, and Cup Champions in Kuwait.

In the matches of the first round, Al Duhail secured 37/14 victory over Qatar SC, Al Sadd beat Al Wakrah 38/27, and Al Rayyan defeated Al Shamal 34/18.

Al-Rayan claimed the league title in the previous season (2023/2024), followed by Al-Arabi in second place and Al-Duhail in third.

It is worth noting that Al-Rayan holds the record for the most league titles, having won it 15 times, followed by Al-Sadd with 9 titles, Al-Duhail with 5, and Al-Ahli and El Jaish with 4 each. Al-Arabi and Qatar SC have won the title twice each, while Al-Gharafa and
Al-Wakrah have one title each.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: The executive office of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation discussed Kuwait’s ongoing organizational preparations to host the 26th Gulf Cup, which will be held from December 21 to January 3.

Held in Doha today, the meeting was chaired by HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, the Minister of Sports and Youth and President of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation.

The meeting discussed several topics on the agenda, including the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting and the report of the last visit of the inspection committee delegation to the State of Kuwait. The efforts of the committee and its keenness to provide the best conditions for the participating teams and fans were praised.

The latest work regarding the affairs of the tournament and other organizational matters that serve the future of Gulf football were also discussed.

The meeting stressed the need for sparing every effort to ensure the success of hosting the important football event at all levels, including ensurin
g the readiness of the infrastructure and sports facilities.

Eight teams will participate in the Gulf Cup, including Qatar, hosts Kuwait, title holders Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Bahrain, and Yemen.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Al Gharafa defeated Qatar SC 3-1 in Week 5 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.

While Ahmed Al Janahi (10th minute), Yacine Brahimi (30th minute penalty) and Joselu (72nd minute) scored for The Cheetahs, the lone goal for Qatar SC was scored by Sebastian Soria (41st minute), the QSL website reported.

Their second win of the league championship saw Al Gharafa move into the top four with a tally of eight points (ahead of Al Wakrah on goal difference) whereas Qatar SC remained on three points in 11th place.

Al Gharafa struck early when Brahimi broke past the defence, but his stinging shot was stopped by a diving Qatar SC goalkeeper Motasem Majed Albustami. The ball, however, on rebound found Al Janahi at hand to strike again.

Qatar SC tried to regroup, but in the 23rd minute Ahmed Radwan shot wide after receiving a good pass from Soria.

The Cheetahs hit back and now with more speed and teeth to their attack. In the 25th minute, a spectacular curl
ing kick of Ferjani Sassi was well-blocked by a rising Albustami.

A minute later, the goalkeeper managed to keep a powerful Florinel Coman shot away.

Al Gharafa, however, kept attacking and Qatar SC in a frantic defence action erred as Khaled Ahmed Mahmoudi felled Coman inside the danger area and the referee called for the penalty. Brahimi stepped up and swung the kick into the left corner to make it 2-0 for his side.

Qatar SC tried to find their way back into the game and found success soon before half-time as Soria made a fine move to break into ‘D’ and collect a fine Badr Benoun pass to flick the ball over an advancing goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar’s head (1-2).

In the second half, Qatar SC tried hard to find an equalizer, but a potential Ben Malango header sailed just over the crossbar on the hour mark.

Soon, Joselu volleyed in a cross from Al Janahi to shock Qatar SC with his side’s third goal.

Though Qatar SC kept trying harder, they could not find success despite many close chances.

In the 11 minu
tes of stoppage time, both sides came close to scoring, but the two goalkeepers made a brilliant save each to deny the rivals.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Doha: Al Wakrah defeated Al Rayyan 2-0 in Week 5 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.

The Al Wakrah shot stopper, Mohammed Al Bakri, made a series of daring saves as Jacinto Dala (seventh minute) and Ricardo Gomes (36th minute) secured the needed goals to move The Blue Wave to eight points in the standings, while Al Rayyan remained on six points.

Al Wakrah, who lost 0-2 to Al Duhail in Week 4, got off to a dream start with Dala taking full advantage of a mistake by Al Rayyan’s Julien de Sart, whose unintended pass in midfield found Hamdi Fathi. The Egyptian international then made a short pass to Dala, who spectacularly finished off the move with a 25-yard thunderous strike to give them an early lead.

Stunned by the deficit, The Lions roared into action in search of a quick equalizer, but the rock-solid defence of Al Wakrah, led by experienced Abdelkarim Hassan, was seemingly impenetrable for the hosts.

Roger Guedes had a great opportunity at restoring parit
y for his side in the 24th minute after being perfectly set up by Gabriel Pereira, but the Brazilian forward mistimed his runs, enabling goalkeeper Al Bakri to make a timely intervention.

Ayoub Assal could have increased Al Wakrah’s lead in the 29th minute after an inch-perfect overhead pass by Gomes, but onrushing goalkeeper Samy Beldi was quicker to reach the ball, thereby curtailing him.

Gomes eventually extended The Blue Wave’s lead seven minutes later after nodding home a brilliant pass by Hassan from an unmarked position inside Al Rayyan’s 18-yard box to give his team a clear lead going into half-time.

Al Wakrah continued from where they stopped on resumption of the second half as they relentlessly launched waves of attacks against Al Rayyan.

The Lions were, however, unlucky not to cut the deficit in the 56th minute when a free-kick from Egyptian loanee Mahmoud Trezeguet was almost finding the net if not for the sharp reflexes of Al Bakri, who made a low diving push for a corner kick that was eventu
ally not converted.

Despite Al Rayyan’s many attempts at goal, goalkeeper Al Bakri stood up against their wishes with a series of daring and brilliant saves as he ensured that his team finished with the maximum points in their kitty.

Source: Qatar News Agency