The 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League continued with Week 19 matches on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with intense competition and excitement – whether at the top, middle or bottom of the standings.

RESULTS

Al Shamal bt Al Ahli 2-1

Umm Salal lost to Muaither 1-2

Qatar SC lost to Al Wakrah 1-5

Al Arabi lost to Al Gharafa 0-1

Al Rayyan bt Al Duhail        2-0

Al Markhiya lost to Al Sadd          1-2

The round witnessed 18 goals being scored in six matches with an average of three goals per match. The six matches saw a result and the round did not witness any draw. The most number of goals were scored in Qatar SC vs Al Wakrah (six goals).

The yellow card was shown 31 times and the red card once, which was to Al Arabi player Wassim Keddari. Al Gharafa and Al Rayyan were the teams with clean sheets.

Four players scored two goals each during the week: Tiago Leanco of Muaither against Umm Salal, Mohamed Benyettou and Jacinto Dala of Al Wakrah against Qatar SC, and Roger Guedes of Al Rayyan against Al Duhail.

As for the competition at the bottom of the standings, Muaither and Al Shamal emerged as the most prominent beneficiaries during the week as Al Shamal advanced from ninth to seventh place. Although Muaither remained in 11th place, the team gained three valuable points also benefiting from the stumble of some teams competing to move away from the relegation zone, widening the difference to six points with bottom-placed Al Markhiya and reducing the difference to two points with Qatar SC (10th).

The exciting competition continued both at the top and bottom between the teams to win and collect points before the league enters the decisive rounds. Al Sadd continued their winning run, maintaining the top spot reaching 43 points, ahead of Al Gharafa, second with 40 points. Al Sadd beat Al Markhiya, while Al Gharafa won over Al Arabi to keep the contest hot in the top four with a difference of three points from the leaders.

Al Wakrah’s victory over Qatar SC raised their tally to 37 points to stay in third place with Al Rayyan in fourth place with 35 points and Al Arabi in fifth position with 23 points after their loss to Al Gharafa.

As for Al Duhail, the side suffered their eighth loss of the season being defeated by Al Rayyan 2-0 and The Red Knights’ tally stayed on 22 points to be in sixth place.

Al Shamal raised their tally to 21 points, one point behind Al Duhail and two points behind Al Arabi. As for Al Ahli, their tally is stuck on 20 points, the side falling to eighth place, followed by Umm Salal, who fell to ninth with the same number of points on goal difference. Qatar SC stood 10th with 16 points.

Muaither regained the winning touch after four rounds by beating Umm Salal 2-1. The result raised Muaither’s tally to 14 points in 11th place. Al Markhiya, meanwhile, remained in 12th place with eight points.