Four sides set to battle it out to avoid relegation play-off

The final round of the 2016/2017 QSL season is set to kick-off on Friday the 14^th April involving four sides who will be looking to avoid a eleventh place finish, which would mean a relegation play-off against Qatar SC of the second division. All matches are set to Kick-off at 18:20 to ensure fair play.

First up will be Al Sailiya who will take on already relegated Al Wakrah at Arabi stadium. Sami Trabelsi’s side are currently eighth in the QSL standings, and have a slight chance of dropping to eleventh place providing they lose heavily to Wakrah and other results go against them. Fresh from spoiling Al Sadd’s title bid last weekend, the Peregrines will be targeting their eight win of the campaign to end their season on a high note.

Third placed Al Rayyan will entertain Al Khor, the side who currently occupies the dreaded play-off spot in the league. Jean Fernandez’s sides has pulled themselves away from trouble in the last two games, and duly know that a shock victory over Al Rayyan along with results going their way could mean that Khor can finish as high as ninth in the QSL standings.

In form Umm Salal will take on an out of sorts Al Arabi side, which could still finish eleventh in the QSL standings. The Orange Fortress have been on a seven game undefeated streak in recent weeks, and will fancy their chances against a Al Arabi side who have only registered one victory from their last five QSL encounters.

Friday’s action comes to an end when tenth placed Al Ahli takes on already relegated Muaither. Ahli have lost their last two games in the league and know that a victory over the Stallions should all but assure their status in the league for another season. Whilst Phillipe Birol’s  Muaither side will be determined to end the season on a high.

Saturday’s QSL action will kick-off with a Qatar Cup warm up match when Al Sadd takes on El Jaish at Al Sadd stadium. Jesaldo Ferriera will be looking for a reaction from his side that just missed out on the QSL falcon shield, and will see the match against an out of form Jaish side as the perfect opportunity for his side to end the campaign on a high.

Elsewhere, and an in-form Al Kharaitiyat side will take on Al Gharafa at Al Khor stadium. The Thunders have won four of their last five QSL matches, which have caused Kharaitiyat to move up to seventh place in the standings. Ahmad Al-Ajlani’s side could even reach the heights of sixth place should results go their way.

Finally the 2016/2017 QSL season will come to a close with Lekhwiya lifting the coveted QSL falcon shield for the fifth time in their history after their match with Al Shahania. Djamel Belmadi’s will be expecting nothing less than a victory to end the season on a high, whilst keeping their record of losing only one game this campaign intact.