Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga was on target for a fifth straight match as his club Al Duhail secured a thumping 6-2 victory away to Al Shamal to open a four-point lead.
Al Duhail look determined to reclaim their league title and made a major statement of intent as they bounced back from last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Al Gharafa in fine fashion.
Christophe Galtier’s men were out of sight by halftime, when they raced to a 4-1 lead, and any chances of a comeback for their hosts were quickly extinguished in the second stanza.
Al Duhail coach Christophe Galtier is worried over losing his key players, who include Kenya’s Michael Olunga, during the upcoming international break, following their fine run of form.
Lucas Verrisimo broke the deadlock for the Qatar Stars League giants after 11 minutes before Olunga added the second 12 minutes later.
A Mohammed Musa own goal would give Al Duhail a 3-0 advantage just five minutes later but Younes Belhanda pulled one back Al Shamal only for Almoez Ali’s penalty to put the away side out of sight. Olunga had been fouled in the box before Al Duhail were awarded the penalty.
Former Liverpool and Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto scored the fifth goal for Al Duhail in the 51st minute but Algerian forward Baghdad Bounedjah scored Al Shamala’s second in the 73rd before after which Ali sealed his brace and his team’s sixth.
It was the eighth league goal of the season for Olunga which leaves him joint top on in the Golden boot chase alongside Rafa Mujica of Al Sadd and crucially, his team are now four points ahead in the league table.
Al Duhail have moved to 22 points from nine matches while champions Al Sadd are second on 18, same as Al Ahli, who have an inferior goal difference.
Five goals in his last five games is what Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat would have wished from his top striker ahead of this month’s must-win 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Harambee Stars forward Johan Ayunga is warming up for Kenya’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers in fine fashion after scoring his first goal of the season for Scottish Premiership side St Mirren.