Al Rayyan made a telling return to 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League post the international break as they defeated Al Shahania 4-2 in Week 4 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan club on Friday.

The enthralling contest with allout attacking play from either side saw all but one goal being scored in the opening half.

Mahmoud Hassan (fifth minute, Roger Guedes (ninth and 45+4 minutes) and Julien De Sart (15th minute) scored for Al Rayyan, while Mohammed Ibrahim (20th minute) and substitute Mohammed Ismail (90th minute) got Al Shahania’s goals.

But unlike what the scoreline may suggest, Al Shahania produced spirited play despite early setbacks attacking the rival den time and again. They also got the ball into the net a second time in second half, but it was cancelled after a VAR check.

This was Al Rayyan’s second win of the league championship and took their tally to six points after two defeats in the previous rounds. Al Shahania stayed on two points. It was also The Lions’ successive win over the same opponents whom they had also beaten in the first round of QSL Cup recently.

Guedes not only scored two goals for the winners, he also provided a valuable assist in the opening goal and later had his two successful strikes turned down as he was found offside.

With Al Shahania still racking up their defence, Guedes back-flipped a long ball from Gabriel Pereira for Mahmoud Hassan to go up and strike between two defenders and to the left of the goalkeeper - from just outside the box (1-0).

Al Shahania suffered a double blow within minutes as their captain Marc Martinez made a defensive blunder with his attempted pass being picked by his counterpart Abdulaziz Hatem to make a through ball for Guedes to score (2-0).

Al Rayyan now rode roughshod and six minutes later De Sart combined with Mahmoud Hassan to get to the target. But his shot into the net after a return pass was first ruled out, but after a VAR check the goal was awarded (3-0).

The fighting nature of Al Shahania stood out in adversity as they responded with a fine diagonal kick from Ibrahim being set up with a back pass by Alhassan Koroma, who trapped a long ball deep inside the ‘D’ (1-3).

In the 26th minute, Al Rayyan goalkeeper Sami Beldy miscued a kick in front of the goal and the ball rolled to hit the bottom of left post, but Al Shahania players could not take advantage of the chance.

In added time of first half, Al Rayyan hit back with Guedes charging in and combining with Mahmoud Hassan before slamming in his second and his team’s fourth goal.

Early in second session, an Al Shahania charge was cut off as De Sart (who received yellow card) pulled down Koroma.

On the hour mark, Ibrahim succeeded for Al Shahania after a goalmouth melee, but a VAR check cancelled the goal due to offside.

Al Shahania’s second goal was spectacular as Abu Shanab cut clear on right to deflect a superb free-kick from Mostafa Jalal.