Doha, April 28 (QNA) - Muaither were relegated to the Second Division after losing 3-4 to Al Arabi in a thriller in Week 22 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Sunday.
Omar Al Somah scored a brace (22nd minute penalty and 85th minute), while Abdullah Marafi added another one (77th minute) before an own goal from Muaithers Fouad Saleh (90+6 minute) gave The Dream Team the undeniable win.
Muaithers goals were scored by Denis Alibec (13th minute), Aymane El Hassouni (48th minute) and Tiago Leonco (79th minute).
The result ensured that Al Arabi finished the season in fifth place with 29 points, while Muaither, with their 14-point tally, were relegated.
Muaither thought they had got a dream start when Abdulrahman Rashed Juma overlapped from the left to beat goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail in the fifth minute of play, but the goal was overruled for offside.
Fighting a battle of their lives for survival in the top league, Muaither kept pressing hard and they were rewarded in the 13th minute when Alibec found the back of the net with a low left-footed shot from an assist by Nassim Benaissa.
Not to be outdone, Al Arabi upped their game thereafter and Al Somah got their equalizer from the spot in the 22nd minute after Mohamed Hassan Al Taabouni was fouled by Muaithers Hugo Gomes in the penalty area.
Muaither got their lead restored three minutes into the second half through Hassouni, who nodded home a brilliant cross from Andri Syahputra.
Marafie gave Al Arabi the equalizer in the 77th minute from a rebound before Leonco restored Muaither's lead two minutes later after beating both the defense and the goalkeeper to a Moataz Bostami pass.
Al Somah once again came to the rescue of Al Arabi as he restored parity in the 85th minute before Muaithers Fouad Saleh extended The Dream Teams lead through an own goal in the sixth minute of added time after unwittingly driving a cross into his own net.
That was the last major action of the game as Al Arabi emerged victorious. (QNA)