Defending champions Al Duhail handed title contenders Al Sadd a 3-1 defeat in the Week 20 summit clash of 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Friday.

The clash between the two heavyweights provided for thrills galore as Almoez Ali, returning after a game’s suspension for The Red Knights, first missed a penalty kick and later scored the opening goal in the 40th minute.

Mercurial Akram Afif soon equalized for Al Sadd in added time of the opening half (45+3) before Al Duhail produced two more goals in the second session through Michael Olunga (57th minute) and Sultan Al Breik (62nd minute) to register a worthy win.

While the result took Al Duhail’s tally to 25 points, it set Al Sadd back a bit at the top position with 43 points.

Al Duhail began on a wrong note as Almoez struck over from the spot with goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham in front of him in the 15th minute of the match. The penalty was awarded after Ismail Mohammed was brought down by Al Sadd’s Musaab Khidir. The referee after a VAR called for the penalty.

Ali, however, made amends for his miss as he put The Red Knights ahead later positioning himself perfectly in front of defender Musaab to get to a superb cross from Ismail Mohammed from the right to fire in and beat Barsham to his left.

The joy for Al Duhail was, however, shortlived as Afif soon fetched the equalizer making a dash to beat a marking Kim Moon-Huan and nudge the ball into the goal despite getting his foot entangled before sliding. Afif was provided with a golden cross by Gonzalo Plata following a well-coordinated move by The Wolves.

It was also Afif’s 23rd goal of the league championship (the most by any player so far).

Al Duhail hit back in the second session with two super goals. Getting back the lead was Olunga as he neatly slotted the ball home into the left corner after Ali from the right cut past two defenders while on top right of the box, the shot went through another defender overlapped by a rival player and which also left an onrushing Musaab unsighted as the ball then went to a waiting Olunga to do the rest.

Al Breik then slammed in Al Duhail’s third and final goal of the game as he first chested a long pass inside left of the danger area before sending in a solid left-footer.

Al Sadd tried hard to stage a fight back, but failed to find a finish despite their best efforts. In the 70th minute, Baghdad Bounedjah headed just past the right post after reaching for a high ball in front of the goal.

Al Duhail’s goalkeeper Shehab Ellethy was outstanding especially in the first half as he twice staved off two potential strikes including a powerful direct kick from Bounedjah in the 28th minute.

There were some more close calls for Al Sadd in the latter part of second session, but Al Duhail held on well to register their seventh win of the league.