Late Winners, Tight Standings: Wakrah and Arabi Edge Qatar in Round 9 as Shahania Slumps
31 October 2025
Wakrah Edge Qatar in Round 9
Wakrah earned a 1-0 victory over Qatar on Friday in the ninth round of the Doha Bank Qatar Stars League. The decisive moment came when Raul De Tomas found the net in the 86th minute, sealing the win as the clock ticked down. The match also featured a late red card for Qatar’s Sergen Falho following a rough off-ball incident with Wakrah’s Hamdi Fathy in stoppage time.
With the result, Qatar stay in second place on 17 points, while Wakrah climb to fourth with 14 points.
Arabi Triumphs Over Shahania, Spark in the Second Half
Al Arabi vs. Al Shahania produced a vigorous second half, after a goalless first half that saw both sides contest control. The momentum swung after Hashem Al-Hussein and Yazen Al-Na'imat came on, with Arabi applying steady pressure and eventually breaking through late in the game. In the 85th minute, Yazen Al-Na'imat dribbled into the box and fired a composed finish, giving Arabi the lead.
Two minutes later, Michael Olunga sprinted through midfield, faced the keeper, and slotted home to secure a 2-0 win for Arabi. The result left Arabi in eighth place with 10 points, while Shahania remained at the bottom with 4 points from 12 games.
The round also featured expectations about the rest of the schedule, with two more fixtures slated for Saturday as the league moves toward a crowded fixture list.
Round nine wrap-up
Two matches are set for Saturday: Umm Salal vs. Al Shamal at the Umm Salal campus and Al Sailiya hosting Al Ahli at the Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium. Coaches and players stressed staying focused through a packed calendar and treating every point as precious in a tight table.
David Brats, coach of Shamal, said his side was ready for Umm Salal and emphasized the need for compact defending and quick transitions. Patrice Carteron, in charge of Umm Salal, highlighted the challenge posed by a strong North competitor and urged balance between offense and defense.
Umm Salal players expressed confidence and resilience, while Al Sailiya and Al Ahli signaled their intent to push for positive results. The overall mood was one of urgency: in this league, a good result can dramatically reshape the standings.
Mergheni Zain Babakr, Umm Salal’s goalkeeper, and M. Sherif of Al Sailiya both stressed staying disciplined and finishing chances. Coaches reiterated the importance of focus and collective effort to climb the table.
Punchline 1: If football had a selfie, this round would be a perfect shot—two teams smiling, one team wondering where the ball went. Punchline 2: In this league, the only thing that’s offside is your chance to blame the coffee for a slow start. Sometimes the sprint to the finish line is just a jog with better lighting.
