Michael Olunga’s spectacular four-goal performance helped Al-Duhail SC win the 2022/23 Qatar Stars League title in a 5-2 rout over Al-Shamal.
The Harambee Stars captain clinched the Golden Boot award for this season with 22 goals, after being crowned last season’s top scorer with 24 goals.
Al-Duhail topped the 12-team league with 51 points from 22 matches, two points above their closest title challenger Al-Arabi, who defeated Al-Sadd 2-1 in the other crucial match held on Monday evening.
Olunga moved to Al-Duhail in 2021, which marks the first time he has won the Qatar Stars League title with the club. Going into their final match against Al-Shamal, Al-Duhail needed a win to secure the title.
Had Al-Duhail lost or drawn against Al-Shamal, Al-Arabi would have won the title due to their victory over Al-Sadd. A stalemate in the two crucial matches would have favoured Olunga’s side Al-Duhail.
Panic gripped Al-Duhail fans when Al-Arabi leapfrogged their side at the top of the log after Abdulla Hasaan found the back of Al-Sadd’s net in the second minute.
However, Al-Duhail quickly regained their lead with Ali Amoez’s goal in the seventh minute, before Olunga scored on 21, 31, and 35 minutes to give his side a 4-0 lead over Al-Shamal at halftime.
Olunga netted his second goal from the penalty spot. One minute into the second half, Matis Nani reduced the deficit for Al-Shamal from the penalty spot, but Olunga scored another goal in 51 minutes.
Mostafa Meshaal scored a consolation goal for Al-Shamal in added time. Omar Al Somah of Al-Arabi, whom Olunga had tied with at the top of the scorers chart ahead of the final league matches, scored only one goal to finish with 19 goals.
Olunga headed into the match with great motivation, having been nominated for the Qatar Football Association Best Player of the Year Award earlier in the day alongside Akram Afifa of Al Sadd and Youssef Msakni of Al Arabi.
