Nigeria international Anthony Okpotu scored a brace and helped his Qatari club Qatar SC to a Qatar SC 3-1 win against Al Sailiya in Sunday Qatar Super League.
Okpotu was handed a starting XI place and he reposed his coach confidence on him by netting two goals.
The forward got Qatar SC to a flyer in the 11th minute when he broke the deadlock and four minutes later he scored the second goal.
Okpotu scored both his goals in similar fashion, with Algerian forward Belaili providing him with the assists on both occasions.
Referee Hamad Al Subaie referred to the Video Assistant Referee to confirm the second goal as Okpotu was doubted to have been offside.
The former US Monastir forward could have completed a hat trick but narrowly missed in the 27th minute as he hit a shot over the bar.
Qatar SC’s Ali Karimi had a free-kick parried by Al Sailiya goalkeeper Claude Amin in the 38th minute.
Mohanad Ali led Al Sailiya’s attacks even as his strike partner Tiago Bezerra was off-colour.
Iraqi Mohanad was unlucky on a couple of occasions in the first half as his shot hit the crossbar and Tiago sent the rebound wide with a bicycle kick.
On another occasion, Mohanad skied his shot before he had a goal disallowed for offside in the 44th minute.
However, Al Sailiya’s efforts bore fruits as Mbodji reduced the margin in first-half injury time with a diving header off Nadir Belhadj’s cross.
Al Sailiya showed more alacrity in the second half.
Soon after resumption, Belhadj tested the goalkeeper with a grounder and then, in the 83rd minute, he was thwarted by Amine.
However, Qatar SC swelled the margin, with Belaili getting on to the scoresheet as the match wore on.
With the victory Okpotu’s club now moved on to 15 points with their fourth consecutive victory and fifth overall this season.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly and Nigeria winger Junior Ajayi is ruled out for a long period with the Red Devils following his injury weeks ago.
Al Ahly’s director of football Sayed Abdel-Hafiz revealed the terrible news on Sunday night following Mosimane men’s 3-1 over Misr El-Makkasa in their Egyptian Premier League opening game.
“Junior Ajayi will be absent for a long period of time that could extend to three months, due to the injury,” Abdel-Hafiz told reporters.
“Ajayi’s injury is not related to his Achilles tendon, but to the ankle.” he added.
