Al Rayyan's Yacine Brahimi (third right) celebrates with team-mates after scoring a hat-trick against Umm Salal during their QNB Stars league match played at the Al Gharafa Stadium, yesterday.
Doha: A magnificent hat-trick by Yacine Brahimi secured a thumping 4-0 win for Al Rayyan against Umm Salal in their QNB Stars League (QSL) round 12 clash at the Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday.
Brahimi scored in the 33rd, 55th and 67th minutes (penalty) after Abdulaziz Hatem opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute.
Yesterday's treble by Brahimi, the currently QSL season's top-scorer with 10 goals under his name, once again proved that the Algerian star is one of the biggest assests of Al Rayyan.
Brahimi, 29, joined the ranks of Al Rayyan from top Portuguese side FC Porto at the start of this season.
With yesterday's win, Al Rayyan have lifted their total points to 28, while Umm Salal are fearing relegation at the bottom of the table with five points.
Next up, Umm Salal have an uphill task on hand as Al Shahania, who also have the same number of points, had beaten Al Gharafa 2-1 in the day’s early kick-off.
It was a disappointing performance by Umm Salal than their 2-2 draw with Al Rayyan in the first leg, in the tournament’s opening week.
The Orange Fortress recently replaced Spaniard Raul Caneda with their former player and Moroccan Aziz Ben Askar. This was their ninth defeat of the season, while Al Rayyan notched up their eighth victory and stayed as the only unbeaten side, along with leaders Al Duhail.
It was all Al Rayyan with 66 per cent possession of the ball. Their domination was complete and they could score twice in both sessions.
Abdulaziz Hatem opened the floodgates following a brilliant spadework by Brahimi.
After Rodrigo Tabata missed a penalty in the 20th minute, Brahimi himself was on target thrice as the game progressed.
Tabata was unlucky as he narrowly missed the target later on.
Umm Salal had to play with 10 men after Rami Fayez was red-carded for fouling Frank Kom in the 64th minute and Brahimi completed his hat-trick by converting from the spot.
For Umm Salal, Fahad Khalfan’s header was collected by Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahd Younis and Jasser Yahya’s rising shot hit the horizontal.
Elsewhere, Al Shahania pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Al Gharafa, their first of the season, thanks to a brilliant double by Kesse Amangoua (19 and 54).
Sofiane Hanni scored Al Gharafa's only goal in the 41st minute (penalty).
Al Shahania coach Jose Murcia would have been delighted with the vital three points they collected against one of the league’s best sides.
Following a solid opening period, their confidence grew and were duly rewarded for their early endeavours. Ahmed Akaichi attacked the left flank before pulling the ball back from the byline into the path of the grateful Amangoua, who smashed home to give his side the lead.
The spirited performance continued and they were unfortunate not to double their lead when both Amangoua and Ali Ferydoon went close.
So often the architects of their own downfall, Al Shahania gifted Al Gharafa the equaliser when Saleh Al Yahri brought down Muad Hassan in the penalty area. The referee authoritatively pointed to the spot and Hanni stepped up to put his side level with a powerful strike.
Into the second half and Al Shahania quickly restored their lead as an excellently-executed through ball by Ahmed Akaichi was pounced up on by the predatory Amangoua who neatly finished to grab his second of the game.
His side was dealt a blow not long after when Ferydoon was given his marching orders in the 66th minute following a second yellow card and that led to a resurgence by Al Gharafa.
