DOHA : Al Shahaniya SC boosted their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over Al Ahli SC in the 17th round of the Doha Bank Stars League season at Al Thumama Stadium on Friday.
The win lifted Al Shahaniya to 14 points. Although they remain bottom of the table in 12th place, the result revived their hopes of avoiding relegation. Al Ahli stay 11th with 15 points after the defeat.
Ivorian Abdoulaye Traore struck twice early in the second half, scoring in the 46th and 53rd minutes to put the hosts in control. German forward Julian Draxler reduced the deficit in the 81st minute to set up a tense finale.
Both sides finished with 10 players. Al Ahli’s Spaniard Eric Exposito was sent off in the 72nd minute, while Al Shahaniya’s Khaled Muftah received a red card deep into stoppage time.
The result tightened the battle at the bottom of the standings as the league enters its decisive phase.
