Al Rayyan edged past Saudi Arabian club Al Faisaly in a closely contested AFC Champions League Two Group C match on Wednesday, securing a 4-3 victory at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium. The Qatari side appeared in control for much of the contest, holding a 3-1 lead at halftime before weathering a late surge from their opponents.
The match began cautiously, with both teams unable to establish early momentum. Al Faisaly’s Ahmad Ersan had an early chance in the fourth minute but fired over the bar from close range following a corner. Al Rayyan soon responded with an opportunity of their own when Roger Guedes’ shot from outside the box was blocked just after a well-placed setup by Otavio.
Al Rayyan’s breakthrough came from a corner soon afterward, as David García rose above the defense to head Otavio’s delivery into the bottom left corner. The Qatari club extended their lead in the 22nd minute when Drissa Diakite’s deft flick freed Guedes, who raced into the box and capitalized on a rebound after his initial shot hit the post. Guedes continued to challenge Al Faisaly’s goalkeeper Al Abdallah Al Fakhorii with a long-range effort in the 27th minute.
The home side added a third goal before halftime when Otavio delivered a precise cross, allowing Ahmed Alaa to score with a diving header beyond the goalkeeper. Despite the two-goal deficit, Al Faisaly pulled one back in stoppage time thanks to Saidou Simpore, who converted a close-range finish assisted by Ahmad Ersan.
Following the break, Al Rayyan regained a three-goal cushion in the 73rd minute as Hazem Shehata finished from close range after a cutback from Ahmed Al Ganehi. However, Al Faisaly mounted a determined comeback late in the match. Mohammad Haddad quickly capitalized on a rebound, firing into the top corner from a tight angle after Ersan’s shot struck the post. Ersan then delivered a stunning free kick in the 84th minute, curling the ball into the top corner to bring Al Faisaly within one goal of the hosts.
Despite the late pressure, Al Rayyan held firm in the closing minutes to claim all three points in a thrilling encounter, opening their AFC Champions League Two campaign with a narrow but significant victory.