Gulf Champions League: Al Rayyan Strengthen Lead in Group B with Draw Against Al Shabab

Doha: Al Rayyan drew 2-2 with their hosts Al Shabab in their match on Tuesday in Riyadh, as part of the fourth round of Group B in the Gulf Champions League. Brazilian Wesley Ribeiro scored both of Al Rayyan's goals in the 5th and 40th minutes, while Abdullah Al Saeed scored for Al Shabab in the 52nd minute, and Moroccan Abderrazak Hamdallah in the 58th minute.

According to Qatar News Agency, with this result, Al Rayyan strengthened their lead in Group B, raising their points tally to 6, while Al Shabab moved up to fourth place with 3 points. Al Rayyan are close to securing a place in the semi-finals, as the tournament format dictates that the top two teams from each group advance to the next round, which will be played in a home-and-away format.

Al Rayyan started the match perfectly, taking the lead with a goal in the fifth minute after a cross from Mustafa Al Sayed was converted by Wesley Ribeiro. Al Shabab tried to get back into the game, putting pressure on Al Rayyan's goal. Belgian Yannick Carrasco almost gave the home side the equalizer with a shot from outside the box that went just wide of the post in the 37th minute.

Al Rayyan then extended their lead with a second goal after a precise pass from Gabriel Pereira found Wesley inside the box, who then fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper in the 40th minute. The remaining minutes of the first half passed without further incident, and Al Rayyan went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

In the second half, Al Shabab gained the upper hand and put pressure on Al Rayyan. They managed to reduce the deficit after a pass from Abderrazak Hamdallah to Abdullah Al Said, who penetrated the box before firing a shot past the goalkeeper in the 52nd minute. Al Shabab then leveled the score after a cross from Carrasco was converted by Abderrazak Hamdallah in the 58th minute.

The back-and-forth continued after that, but neither side created any clear-cut chances, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.