Al Wakrah beat Umm Salal 2-0 in Week 18 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium of Al Gharafa club on Saturday.

The fiercely-contested game saw Umm Salal resist hard against an attacking Al Wakrah.

While Mohamed Benyettou scored from the spot in the 45th minute, Umm Salal’s Marouane Louadni scored an own goal in the 55th minute as Al Wakrah made it home 2-0.

The win also swelled Al Wakrah’s tally to 34 points, while Umm Salal remained on 20 points.

The Blue Wave could have scored more, but for their lack of finishing and Umm Salal’s good defence.

Al Wakrah made a challenging start and, in the 10th minute, Ayoub Assal came close to scoring, but his kick went just wide to the right of the goal post.

Umm Salal then tried to make some forays, but lacked incisiveness while Al Wakrah’s attempts were repeatedly foiled by The Orange Fortress.

With both sides battling hard towards the close of opening session, a kick from Al Wakrah’s Omar Salah hit the hand of Umm Salal’s Adel Alawi and the referee, after a VAR check, called for a penalty.

Benyettou struck firmly from the spot as Al Wakrah went up the lead.

Al Wakrah came out strongly after resumption and attacked the rival fort, but Umm Salal goalkeeper Sami Beldi made some very good saves. First, he evaded a Benyettou strike while guarding near the right post with his right leg and, a minute later, he held off a Lucas Mendes header off a corner.

In the 49th minute, Al Wakrah’s Jacinto Dala made an attempt from the top of the box, but it went to the left of the goal.

In the 54th minute, Umm Salal’s substitute Nasser Al Nasr made a strong kick, but it went straight to the goalkeeper at the centre of the goal.

A minute later, Al Wakrah hit back and Benyettou latched on to a rebound following the goalkeeper’s save and his kick took Umm Salal’s Marouane Louadni into the net as he tried to stop the ball.

Umm Salal later tried hard to make amends, but Al Wakrah held on.