Harambee Stars captain Michael OIunga put in a man of the match performance as Al Duhail thrashed Qatar Stars League leaders Al Duhail on Friday night.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga inspired Al Duhail to a 3-1 victory over Qatar Stars League leaders Al Sadd with a goal and an assist on Friday evening.
Olunga put Al Duhail 2-1 ahead after Akraf Afif had cancelled out Almoez Ali’s 40th minute goal for Christophe Galtier’s team before Sultan Al Breik completed the win.
Ali found the target after a swift counter attack, hammering home a powerful shot, to give Al Duhail the lead four minutes to the break. However, the lead lasted five minutes as Afif levelled matters for the visitors on the stroke of halftime.
06:24 - 05.04.2024
Michael Olunga rallies Al Duhail for crucial clash against Qatar Stars League leaders Al Sadd
Kenya's Michael Olunga is preparing for a significant match with Al Duhail against league leaders Al Sadd set for Friday night.
Al Duhail then returned from the break rejuvenated with Olunga and Ali combining well for their team’s second goal. Another counter attack saw Ali pass to the Kenyan international and he made no mistakes after 57 minutes.
The goal gave Al Duhail impetus as they upped the ante against the league leaders who found the going tough at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
Olunga made his mark again in 62nd minute when his cross ball was met by Sultan Al-Breik who chested it before firing a left-wing shot into the Al Sadd net.
“+1goal, +1assist, +3points,” Olunga posted on social media after the win.
It was just the second defeat for Al Sadd who look poised to reclaim the title they lost to Al Duhail last season with Olunga and co now registering their seventh win of the campaign which leaves them sixth on the table on 25 points, 18 behind the league leaders.
Olunga has now netted 13 league goals this season, five behind top scorer Yacine Brahimi of Al Gharafa.
Al Duhail have had an inconsistent season with this being just their second league win in 2024 and third in all competitions since the turn of the year.
The club also suffered greatly when Olunga was kept out for two months due to a knee injury, failing to win any of their five matches in the period in which he was sidelined.
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