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Harambee Stars skipper netted from the spot in a seven goal thriller.
Al Duhail striker Michael Olunga was on the scoresheet in Qatar to help his club trounce a stubborn Al Rayyan 4-3 in a fiercely contested league clash on Tuesday night.
The Kenyan captain notched his 15th league goal with nineteen games played so far this season. Standing on the 18 yard box line, Olunga surged forward and sent the keeper the wrong way but displayed no emotions afterwards as teammates flocked him in congratulation. The victory was not straight forward as the lowly ranked al Rayyan fought tooth and nail in their backyard with former West Ham star Souffiane Boufal proving a handful for Olunga and co.
Ivorian Yohan Boli shot Al Rayyan ahead after just 25 minutes and ripped the script for favorites Al Duhail who took twelve minutes to respond through homeboy Khalid Mohhamed. With parity restored, it did not take long for Al Duhail exert their weight as Tunisian midfielder Ferjani Sassi pounced deep in first half added to time to tuck in Ali Almoez's assist.
Olunga's Al Duhail went for halftime break 2-1 up and the Kenyan striker stretched his club's lead when in the 76th minute he stepped up to convert from the spot and give Al Duhail a 3-1 lead. Rather than killing their fighting spirit, Olunga's goal ushered in a period of frenetic fightback from the hosts.
They grabbed a goal back just four minutes after the penalty courtesy of Boufal's industry to set up a tense final ten minutes. Almoez responded almost immediately for Al Duhail a solo effort to stretch the scoreline 4-2 in favour of the visitors in the 82nd.
Al Rayyan were determined not to go quietly and Boli and Boufal combined lated in added time for the Tunisian to score hhis second of the game and Al Rayyan's 3rd of the night. Al Duhail walked away with three points in the bag and a place atop the Qatari league.
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