Al Duhail, under the guidance of coach Christophe Galtier, maintained their four-point lead in the Ooredoo Stars League with a draw against Al Gharafa. Despite taking the lead with a goal from Michael Olunga in the 55th minute, substitute Mohammed Muntari netted an 87th-minute equalizer for Al Gharafa. This draw marked the Red Knights’ first non-victory of the season, with their only defeat coming against Al Shahania.
Galtier expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance, particularly their inconsistency in the match. He noted that while they improved in the second half and had opportunities to score, their lack of finishing was ultimately punished by Al Gharafa. The coach emphasized the importance of maintaining focus in the title race, especially with defending champions Al Sadd climbing to second place in the standings.
Looking ahead, Galtier stressed the need for his team to collect points in every game, regardless of their opponents’ rankings in the standings. Al Duhail will face off against Al Shamal next, while Al Gharafa, now fourth in the standings with 12 points, will take on Al Arabi. The recent victory for Anthony Hudson’s Al Arabi over Qatar SC has boosted their confidence as they prepare to face Al Gharafa.
In a dominant display, Al Sadd secured a 3-0 victory over Al Wakrah, propelling them to second place in the standings. Rafa Mujica scored twice, with Akram Afif adding another goal to secure Al Sadd’s third win of the season. With Al Ahli now in third place on goal difference, the reigning champions will aim to close the gap with Al Duhail when they face Al Rayyan next.
Following a 2-2 draw with Al Ahli, coach Igor Biscan has called for improvement from his team. Al Shahania, on the other hand, is riding high on confidence after a 2-0 victory over Al Shamal. The team’s coach, Alvaro Mejia, expressed satisfaction with their performance and is aiming to maintain their momentum in the upcoming matches.
In other league action, Umm Salal moved up to fifth place after a goalless draw against bottom-placed Al Khor, edging past Al Wakrah on goal difference. With the title race heating up and teams vying for crucial points, every match becomes vital in determining the final standings in the OSL. As the competition intensifies, coaches like Galtier will need to rally their teams to maintain consistency and focus in pursuit of their season goals.
