A goal apiece in each half gave Al-Sadd a 2-0 victory over Al-Gharafa in the QNB Stars League Round 20 game that was played at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday.
The result saw Al-Sadd take their points tally to 54, with the team remaining unbeaten this season. Nam Tae-hee put the Wolves in the lead with his strike in 16th minute, before Santi Cazorla dispatched a penalty in the 65th minute to complete the scoring.
Al-Sadd got off to a good start in the game and almost took the lead in the first minute itself, when Nam Tae-hee cut into the box and attempted a shot, only to see it palmed away for a corner. Al Gharafa responded with two tries from Ahmed Alaa, but the Al-Sadd defence was on the lookout on both occasions.
The Wolves continued to apply pressure until Nam finally managed to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Santi Cazorla delivered a superb through ball from midfield and Nam dodged the advancing keeper, before placing the ball in the net with a cool finish.
The rest of the first half did not witness any dangerous attempts, except for one chance in the 42nd minute for Al-Sadd; the Al-Gharafa defence tried to clear the ball after a cross from Yousuf Abdurisag, only to see the ball fall to Cazorla. However, the Spaniard’s shot missed the target.
It took until the midway point in the second half for Al-Sadd to score again, after a penalty was awarded for a handball by Al-Gharafa defender Saeed Al-Haj. Cazorla stepped up and sent a Panenka past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Thereafter, Al-Sadd maintained their control over the match, dominating possession and switching play between the wings and the centre of the pitch. Coach Xavi Hernandez brought on three youngsters as the match headed towards its end: Talal Bahzad, Mouaz Abdullah and Mohammed Almanae all came on, a day after securing the Qatargas U-23 League title.
After three minutes of added time, the referee blew his whistle to signal for the end of the game, as Al-Sadd notched up their 17th league win of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
Al-Sadd x Al-Gharafa (2020-21 QNB Stars League Round 20)
Venue:
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Musaab Khidir, Hussam Kamal (Ali Asad), Mohammed Waad (Talal Bahzad), Bahaa Mamdouh, Salem Al Hajri, Guilherme, Nam Tae-hee (Mouaz Abdullah), Rodrigo Tabata (Mohammed Almanae), Santi Cazorla, Yousuf Abdurisag (Baghdad Bounedjah)
Al-Gharafa: Yousuf Hassan, Tamim Al Muhaiza, Moayad Hassan, Yousuf Muftah, Koo Ja-cheol, Ahmed Alaa (Ahmed Al Janehi), Adlene Guedioura, Amro Seraj, Homam Al Amin, Serge Kanon (Saeed Al Haj), Sofiane Hanni
Result:
Al-Sadd won 2-0
Goals:
Nam Tae-hee 16′
Santi Cazorla 65′ (P)
Bookings:
Rodrigo Tabata 59′
Mohammed Almanae 84′
Nasser Al Ahrak 86′
Referees:
Motasem Al Mazeed (main referee)
Yousuf Al Shammari (assistant 1)
Faisal Al Yafei (assistant 2)
Hussain Al Sayed (fourth official)
