Karim Boudiaf header wins it for Duhail

Doha: Duhail continued with their winning ways but this time Al Arabi made the QNB Stars League leaders battle for a 1-0 victory.

Karim Boudiaf scored the winner for Djamel Belmadi’s side when he headed home Murad Naji’s corner in the first half.

The win helped Duhail consolidate their position at the top with 35 points from 13 games while Arabi are ninth, with 10.

It was, as usual, all Duhail at the start of the match, but the first shot at goal came from Khalfan Ibrahim’s boot. Though the former golden boy of Qatari football is struggling to find his footing, he still managed to show glimpses of his dazzling skills. One such moment, when Khalfan ran straight at Duhail defence gave Arabi a freekick in a dangerous position after he was fouled by Lucas Mendes. But the Arabi No 10’s effort, however, was wide of the mark.

Duhail put the ball in Arabi net when Nam Tae Hee headed home a cross from the left, but the South Korean attacker was pulled up for offside.

A few minutes later, Dame Traore’s header off a corner was saved by Arabi keeperMasoud Mohmad as Duhail continued to dominate.

But Khalfan again put Duhail defence in a spot of bother with his direct running and forced them to concede another free-kick in a dangerous position. Khalfan’s shot, however, lacked the dip to trouble Amine Lecomte.

Duhail took the lead in the 29th when Karim Boudiaf towered above Arabi defence to head home Murad Naji’s corner.

Though Duhail continued to dominate possession and create chances in the second half as well, Arabi managed to stay afloat thanks to Masoud’s alert keeping and some desperate defending.

Duhail survived a big scare in the dying moments of the match when Mendes’ intended back pass crashed onto the bar and hit the goalline before Lecomte grabbed it.

In another match, Patrick Alves' 5th-minute strike helped Qatar Sports Club beat Al Markhiya 1-0.