admin 
Al Rayyan player celebrate after winning the QSL Cup at Stadium 974 Wednesday.
PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil
Favourites Al Rayyan prevailed over Second Division rivals Muaither 2-0 in the final to lift the QSL Cup at Stadium 974 Wednesday. The triumph also meant The Lions claimed their first trophy since winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup in 2018, delivering immediate success under new coach Vicente Moreno.
Roger Guedes struck in first-half stoppage time (45+1 minute) before Aleksandar Mitrovic added a second in the 53rd minute to seal victory for the champions.
Muaither, who enjoyed an impressive tournament run, made strong early efforts to find a breakthrough but were held back by a resolute Al Rayyan defence. Their inexperience showed at a crucial moment when they squandered a promising chance inside the box.
Al Rayyan were also tested by Muaither’s disciplined backline despite creating several opportunities. The deadlock was eventually broken when Brazilian forward Guedes capitalised on a clever assist from Khaled Ali Binsabaa, breaking into the box before beating both defender and goalkeeper to slot the ball into the right corner of the net.
Al Rayyan doubled their lead early in the second half when Mitrovic headed home a long free kick that bounced into the net. The assistant referee initially raised the flag, but the goal was awarded following a VAR review.
Moreno has been in charge for just two weeks after replacing Artur Jorge, and the victory provides a timely boost as The Lions continue their pursuit of further silverware. Al Rayyan remain in contention in both the Amir Cup and the Gulf Club Champions League.
Al Rayyan centre-back Jassim Jaber expressed his delight at securing the title. “We performed well in the final against Muaither and crowned our efforts by winning this championship, which we hope will be an important motivation for us in the future,” he said.
“Winning this title will give us confidence ahead of the semi-finals of the Gulf Champions League next Sunday. We thank Al Rayyan fans for their support, as they always have a great impact on raising the morale of the players,” Jaber added.
Related Story
