Curtains fell on the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League with Week 22 (final round) action on May 8 and 9, 2023, as Al Duhail were crowned the champions for the eighth time in their history, Al Sailiya were relegated to the Second Division and Al Shamal went into the Play-Off against Second Division runners-up Al Khor.

This round saw Al Rayyan defeating Al Gharafa 4-1 and Al Sadd losing to Al Arabi 1-2. Al Duhail beat Al Shamal 5-2, and Al Ahli defeated Al Markhiya 1-0, while Al Sailiya lost to Al Wakrah 0-1. Week 22 also saw Umm Salal and Qatar SC playing out a goalless draw.

Al Duhail were crowned the 2022-2023 season QNB Stars League champions for the eighth time in their history after their 5-2 victory against Al Shamal in the last round. The Red Knights topped the standings with 51 points to regain the title after a gap of two seasons. On the other hand, Al Shamal went into Play-Off with Al Khor after they were edged by Umm Salal on goal difference after both teams were tied on 18 points. Al Khor emerged as the Second Division runners-up with 28 points, behind Muaither SC, who got promoted to the QNB Stars League.

Al Duhail thus equaled Al Rayyan in second place in terms of most league titles, after Al Sadd (16 titles).

It was the third title for Al Duhail this season, Qatar Cup 2023 and Ooredoo Cup being their other triumphs.

Al Arabi finished second for the first time after a long time with 49 points after defeating Al Sadd 2-1 in the last round, and the latter settled for third place with 44 points.

Al Wakrah managed to finish fourth following their 1-0 victory over Al Sailiya to be on 39 points. Qatar SC, who played out a goalless draw with Umm Salal, claimed fifth place with 36 points and Al Gharafa, who lost 1-4 to Al Rayyan, ended up sixth with 32 points.

Al Markhiya and Al Ahli finished in the middle of the table. Al Markhiya came seventh despite losing 0-1 to Al Ahli (eighth) on better goal difference after both teams were tied on 24 points.

Al Rayyan ensured their survival in the top flight with a 4-1 victory over Al Gharafa to be on 20 points in ninth place. Umm Salal escaped relegation and Play-Off after playing out a 0-0 draw with Qatar SC and finished 10th with 18 points, on better goal difference than Al Shamal (11th).

Al Sailiya were relegated to the Second Division after losing 0-1 to Al Wakrah to finish on 16 points in 12th position.

Al Duhail striker Michael Olunga emerged as the top scorer with 22 goals after scoring four times in their win over Al Shamal. Al Arabi’s Omar Al Somah is the second best with 19 goals.

Al Wakrah’s Jacinto Dala came third with 15 goals, followed by Al Rayyan’s Yohan Boli and Al Arabi’s Yousef Msakni (both 13 goals).

Source: Qatar News Agency