Al-Sadd clinched the Qatar Clasico with a 4-2 win over Al-Rayyan in the QNB Stars League Round 3 game played at Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.
Hassan Al-Haydos opened the scoring for Al-Sadd in the 4th minute, before Baghdad Bounedjah doubled the lead in the 21st minute. Andre Ayew then made it 3-0 in the 24th minute. Al-Rayyan reduced the deficit through goals from Hashim Ali and Abdulaziz Hatem on either side of the halftime break. In the 58th minute, Akram Afif secured the win with Al-Sadd’s fourth goal.
The result saw the Wolves increase their points tally to 9, after three wins in their opening three games.
Al-Sadd got off to a superb start when captain Al-Haydos was put through on goal by Tarek Salman with a great pass, leaving him to score the opening goal with a chipped finish.
Bounedjah then got on the scoresheet in the 21st minute, getting past three Al-Rayyan defenders before slotting past Fahad Younis for the second goal.
Three minutes later, Ayew netted Al-Sadd’s third of the night, with a fierce strike to the left corner from the edge of the box.
Despite the Wolves’ control over the game, a mistake from Meshaal Barsham just before halftime saw Hashim Ali pounce and reduce the deficit for Al-Rayyan.
When the teams emerged after the halftime break, Al-Sadd aimed to put the result beyond doubt but Al-Rayyan managed to score another goal in the 49th minute, Abdulaziz Hatem finishing off Ali Malallah’s cross to complicate matters.
However, Xavi Hernandez’s side succeeded in restoring the two-goal lead in the 58th minute, when Afif scored. Bounedjah’s cross into the box took a slight deflection but fell at the Qatari international’s feet, and he made no mistake with his strike which made it 4-2.
After that goal, Al-Sadd managed to control play for the rest of the game. Xavi sent 17-year-old Mahdi Salem for his senior debut in place of Al-Haydos in the 80th minute.
With the referee blowing his whistle for full time, Al-Sadd celebrated yet another Qatar Clasico victory.
MATCH DETAILS
Al-Sadd x Al-Rayyan (QNB Stars League 2021-22 – Round 3)
Venue:
Khalifa International Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Jung Woo-young, Hassan Al Haydos (Mahdi Salem), Ali Asad (Yusuf Abdurisag), Baghdad Bounedjah, Mohammed Waad, Guilherme (Musaab Khidir), Tarek Salman, Akram Afif, Andre Ayew
Al-Rayyan: Fahad Younis, Ali Malallah, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Franck Kom, Dame Traore, Khaled Muftah, Abdulaziz Hatem, Mowafak Awad, Hashim Ali, Yohan Boli, Ahmed El Sayed
Result:
Al-Sadd won 4-2
Goals:
Hassan Al-Haydos 4′
Baghdad Bounedjah 21′
Andre Ayew 24′
Hashim Ali 45′
Abdulaziz Hatem 49′
Akram Afif 58′
Bookings:
Shoja Khalilzadeh 72′
Musaab Khidir 90+2′
Referees:
Main referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim
Assistant referee: Saoud Ahmed
Assistant referee: Majed Al-Shammari
Fourth official: Mohammed Al-Shammari
