Friday saw a festival of goals between two matches in the Qatar Stars League and African players were the stars.
The opening match saw a Tunisia to Algeria connection create havoc for Al-Shamal who thrashed Umm Salal 4-0 at home. Algeria national team striker Bounedjah opened the scoring from the penalty spot before setting up Tunisian attacker Naïm Sliti for his first goal with the club.
Sliti returned the favor with an assist for Bounedjah's second. Former Al Sadd star Bounedjah now has an impressive record of 13 goals and 7 assists in 13 matches, extending his lead at the top of the league scoring chart. Former Morocco national team playmaker Younes Belhand joined in on the party with a penalty kick early in the second half as Shamal moved up to 5th place in the 12-team league.
Video: Al-Shamal 4-0 Umm Salal Highlights
In the later match on Friday, defense was optional as Al Wakra triumphed 4-3 over Al Arabi. Two more notable Tunisian stars found the net with midfielder Aïssa Laïdouni scoring Wakra's second goal inside ten minutes from an assist by Angola star Gelson Dala, who provided the first goal three minutes earlier.
Dala was not done. The Primeiro de Agosto youth product set up the third goal early in the second half with a perfect pass and then it was Cape Verdean striker Ricardo Gomes who entered the chat with a penalty kick conversion soon after the hour mark.
Down 4-1 after the penalty kick from Gomes, visitors Al Arabi attempted to stage a comeback and certainly provided a scare for Wakra supporters. After former Real Betis forward Rodri pulled one back, the Spaniard assisted Tunisia national team legend Youssef Msakni for his 6th goal in 8 league matches this season.
Al Wakra move into 7th place with an important victory, leaping past Al Arabi who sit level with Percy Tau's new club Qatar SC on 13 points with Arabi only out of the relegation zone by virtue of having a superior goal difference to Qatar SC.
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