Hamdi Harbaoui stars as Al Arabi beat Al Ahli
Doha, Qatar: Hamdi Harbaoui scored a brace to help Al Arabi defeat Al Ahli 3-1 in the Qatar Stars League on Friday.
In the match played at Al Janoub Stadium, Arabi were far more organised defensively and proved too tough for Ahli attackers.
Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson, who came from Cardiff in England, was a rock in defensive midfield and was key to Arabi’s win.
Another key player was Harbaoui, who helped himself with two goals.
His first, which gave Arabi the lead for the first time, came in the 23rd minute.
Harbaoui, always a threat in the air, guided Yusuf Abdurisag’s curling ball past Ivanildo Rodriguesdos’ outstretched hands into the goal.
But 12 minutes later Hernan Gonzalez replied for Ahli with a stunner when he turned a couple of defenders inside out even as he entered the box before unleashing a powerful right-footer that gave Gregory Gomis in Arabi goal no chance.
With former West Ham United and Newcastle United player Mohammed Diame operating in midfield, Ahli briefly appeared to have the upper hand, but it was Arabi who emerged as the strongest after the halftime break.
And they deservedly regained the lead when Lasogga Pierre Michelle rose high above Ahli defence to head home Mohamed Salah’s corner in the 51st minute.
The Reds made the game safe in the 68th minute after Rodriguesdos made a mess of Musab Keder’s innocuous-looking cross pushing it back to Harbaoui, who gleefully put the ball in the empty net.
In the second match on Friday, Mahmous Almawas scored two splendid goals to help Umm Salal hold Al Rayyan.
The Syrian striker game Umm Salal the lead in the 6th minute only for Lee Jae Ik to equalise just two minutes later.
Rodrigo Tabata's freak free-kick goal gave Rayyan the lead in the 31st minute, but Almawas again showed his finishing skills to draw level in the 71st.
