Al-Wakrah hosted Al-Rayyan in the second round of the Star League on Wednesday, and the visitors took all three points with a 1:2 victory. Roger Guedes gave the hosts an early lead before stoppage time, but Al-Rayyan turned the game around with second-half goals from A. Zouhzouh and A. Alaaeldin. By then the pattern was clear — Al-Rayyan were clinical where Al-Wakrah were not.
Guedes nodded in from close range just before the interval, capitalising on a moment of uncertainty at the back. Al-Wakrah had 55 per cent possession and pushed forward, but their efficiency was questionable. They created two big chances and registered four shots on target, yet only found the net once. To be fair, Al-Rayyan were sharper with what they got.
The visitors took the lead in the 73rd minute when Zouhzouh found space inside the box and finished. Al-Wakrah responded, bringing on Wesley and A. Al Minhali at half-time, but the visitors doubled their advantage with a late strike from Alaaeldin in the 90th minute. The hosts had more attacks — 104 compared to 88 — but the shots tell another story. Fourteen shots off target against Al-Rayyan's five suggests they were reaching for something that wasn't there.
Al-Rayyan's defensive work was solid. They made 35 clearances to Al-Wakrah's 12 and won 16 aerial duels against seven. Their keeper made four saves, and they created four big chances while managing only one goal. Shots accuracy of 33 per cent against 17 per cent says it all — efficiency over volume.
The result leaves Al-Rayyan top of the table with six points from two matches, while Al-Wakrah sit eighth with just one. The visitors are unbeaten in two, and this away win extends that run. Al-Wakrah's recent form has been uneven — a 2:2 draw with Qatar followed by heavy defeats — but this loss confirms they still have work to do.