Al-Sadd registered their first win of the AFC Champions League after defeating Al-Wehdat 3-1 in their Group D Matchday 3 clash on Tuesday at the King Fahd International Stadium.
Baghdad Bounedjah put Al-Sadd in the lead with a 2nd minute strike, before Khoukhi Boualem doubled the advantage in the 9th minute. Hassan Al-Haydos then made it 3-0 in the 26th minute. Ahmed Sameer scored Al-Wehdat’s lone goal from a penalty in the 63rd minute.
The result saw the Wolves move to third in the group standings, with a tally of four points from three games.
Al-Sadd got off to a superb start in the game when Bounedjah scored in the second minute itself. Santi Cazorla delivered a corner from the left and Guilherme flicked the ball goalwards, where Bounedjah was waiting to finish.
Seven minutes later, Khoukhi made it 2-0 with a thumping header off another corner from Cazorla. In the 12th minute, Cazorla almost got on the scoresheet himself but his shot came back off the post.
As the first half progressed, Al-Sadd created further chances and the third goal duly arrived in the 27th minute. Mohammed Waad deflected shot from outside the box fell sideways to Hassan Al-Haydos, who converted and made it 3-0.
Al-Sadd tried to score more in the second half but found the going difficult. Xavi made a couple of changes at the hour mark, sending on Musaab Khidir and Hashim Ali in place of Pedro Miguel and Hassan Al-Haydos.
In the 63rd minute, Al-Wehdat reduced the deficit from a penalty, which was converted by Ahmad Sameer. The referee had awarded the spot-kick after a foul by Tarek Salman in the box.
Al-Wehdat increased the pressure as the match headed towards the end, but Al-Sadd managed to maintain their lead and went on to clinch the 3-1 victory.
MATCH DETAILS
Al-Sadd x Al-Wehdat (AFC Champions League 2021 Group D – Matchday Three)
Venue:
King Fahd International Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel (Musab Kheder), Abdelkarim Hassan, Nam Tae-hee (Ali Asad), Hassan Al Haydos (Hashim Ali), Baghdad Bounedjah, Mohammed Waad (Salem Al-Hajri), Guilherme, Boualem Khoukhi, Santi Cazorla, Tarek Salman
Al-Wehdat: Ahmad Abdel-Sattar, Feras Shelbaieh, Yazan Al-Arab, Ahmad Elias, Anas Hammad, Tareq Khattab, Abdou Ndiay, Ahmad Haikal, Ahmad Zreik, Fadi Awad, Ahmed Saleh
Result:
Al-Sadd won 3-1
Goals:
Baghdad Bounedjah 2′
Khoukhi Boualem 9′
Hassan Al-Haydos 26′
Bookings:
Khaled Essam 60′
Yazan Abul-Arab 67′
Tarek Salman 80′
Referees:
Main referee: Dhilan Perera (Sri Lanka)
Assistant referee: D. Hemathunga (Sri Lanka)
Assistant referee: S.W. Hewage Don (Sri Lanka)
Fourth official: Omar Al Yaqoubi (Oman)
