Doha: Michael Olunga fired a super hat-trick as Al Duhail clinched the QNB Stars League (QSL) title in style, thrashing Al Shamal 5-1 at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
The overall eighth QSL crown and their first triumph since the 2019-2020 season also sealed treble for the Red Knights, who bagged the Ooredoo Cup and the Qatar Cup crowns earlier this season.
The victory wrapped up Hernan Crespo side’s phenomenal campaign in the QSL with 51 points as they finished two points ahead of Al Arabi, who sealed second place after beating Al Sadd 2-1 at their home turf of Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.
“I think Qatar is a lucky country for us Argentineans. My country won the World Cup here and now as an Argentine, I have three trophies in my first season which is amazing,” a delighted Crespo said recalling Lionel Messi’s side World Cup triumph at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
“We fought very hard throughout the season because the opponents like Al Arabi and Al Sadd were very difficult. I want to thank the players, the entire management and all people who were involved with the club.”
After losing to Al Sadd in their previous match, Al Duhail, aware of the Al Arabi threat in the title race, came out with all guns blazing particularly Olunga, who also secured the Mansour Muftah Award for Top Scorer after netting four goals. The Kenyan star finished with a whopping tally of 22 goals in the season.
Captain Almoez Ali scored from a close range off a fine ball from Nam Tae-hee to put Al Duhail into lead in the seventh minute with Olunga opening his account, heading in a Mohamed Musa cross in 21st minute.
The feared striker then converted a penalty in 32nd minute after Al Shamal’s Abdel Aziz was penalised for a foul against Almoez inside the box. Olunga completed his hat-trick hitting the ball on top of the net with Tae-hee setting up a goal again in the 35th minute.
The Al Duhail star scored his fourth goal in 52nd minute with a left-footed strike that got a VAR green light after it was initially rejected by the referee for offside.
Matias Nani, who scored from the spot in 48th minute and Moustafa Tarek, who struck in 90+4 minutes were the scorers for Al Shamal, who will feature in the play-off against Second Division runners-up Al Khor after finishing 11th. Second Division champions Muaither SC earned promotion to the top flight.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Marafee handed Al Arabi an early lead with a second minute strike before Omar Al Somah doubled the advantage for Younes Ali’s side in 55th minute – his 19th goal of the season.
Baghdah Bounedjah’s goal in 90+2 minutes came too late for Al Sadd as they had to settle for a third place with 44 points after winning back-to-back titles.
The victory will give a huge morale boost to Al Arabi, who will face Al Sadd again in Friday’s Amir Cup final at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
Yesterday, Al Wakrah also capped their season on a high note finishing fourth to seal a berth in next season’s Qatar Cup.
At Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium, Mohamed Khaled secured a narrow 1-0 win for the Blue Waves over Al Sailiya with an 87th minute goal. The Peregrines were relegated to the Second Division after finishing on the bottom with 16 points.
Meanwhile, Qatar SC finished in fifth place after a goalless draw against Umm Salal ending their season with 36 points. The Orange Fortress finished 10th with 18 points.
In other match yesterday, Al Rayyan, who continued to struggle throughout the season, claimed a dominant 4-1 victory over Al Gharafa, who finished sixth with 32 points.
The win retained Al Rayyan’s place in the next season’s QSL as they ended up ninth with 20 points.
Mohammed Emad (18th minute), Yohan Boli (51’), Jeisson Vargas (61’) and Abdulaziz Hatem (66’) were their scorers while Moayad Hassan scored the only goal for Al Gharafa in 70th minute at Grand Hamad Stadium.
The last match of the QSL season will be played between Al Ahli and Al Markhiya today
