Doha, February 21 (QNA) - Umm Salal claimed a valuable 1-0 victory over Al Sailiya in week 16 of the Doha Bank Stars League. The match was played on Friday at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium.

Spanish forward Cristo Perez scored the decisive goal in the 24th minute, sealing Umm Salal's second consecutive win. The result lifts the side to 15 points in 11th place, level on points with Al Sailiya, who remain ninth in the standings.

Umm Salal started brightly in search of an early breakthrough and nearly found it in the seventh minute. A cross from Croatian defender Antonio Mance found Perez inside the area, but his effort struck the post.

The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Abdulrahman Al Rashidi delivered a precise cross into the box. Perez met it with a firm strike that beat the goalkeeper at the near post to give Umm Salal the lead.

Al Sailiya responded with increased attacking intent. Dutch defender Van der Kaap tested the goalkeeper with a powerful shot in the 36th minute, while Anwar El Ghazi failed to capitalize on a dangerous delivery from Hadi Ali just before halftime. Umm Salal carried their one-goal advantage into the break.

Al Sailiya resumed the second half strongly and almost equalized in the 52nd minute when Brazilian forward Cristian Dal Bello unleashed a fierce shot that was carried away by goalkeeper Luay Sharif. Umm Salal replied three minutes later through Ivorian midfielder Jean Ahoulou, whose long-range effort sailed over the bar.

Momentum shifted in Al Sailiya's favor as they pushed for an equalizer. El Ghazi came close twice, first with a shot that drifted narrowly wide in the 63rd minute and then with another attempt saved by the Umm Salal keeper in the 70th.

The pressure nearly paid off in the 77th minute when El Ghazi delivered a pass to the edge of the area, where Abdulrahman Mohammed struck a powerful shot that rebounded off the post.

Dal Bello squandered a final opportunity in the 90th minute, heading just wide from close range, as Al Sailiya were denied at least a point. The referee's final whistle confirmed a hard-fought win for Umm Salal, who secured all three points with a solitary goal. (QNA)