Al-Sadd recorded a 2-1 win over Al-Rayyan in their QNB Stars League Round 9 game which was played at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium on Wednesday. Andre Ayew (7′) and Akram Afif (52′) scored for Al-Sadd, while Steven Nzonzi (56′) got the lone goal for Al-Rayyan.
The result meant that Al-Sadd increased their points tally to 10 from eight games, and move up to eighth place in the league table. The Wolves have a postponed game against Qatar SC from Round 8 yet to be played.
Al-Sadd began well, and were able to take the lead early on in the game. Ayew made no mistake from close range after a pass from Baghdad Bounedjah on the left.
The pressure increased thereafter, as Al-Sadd kept going for a second goal. Bounedjah came close in the 30th minute but the shot went wide.
In the 41st minute, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Akram Afif was deemed to have been brought down in the box. However, the penalty kick was cancelled after a VAR review.
Following the halftime break, Al-Sadd finally got their goal and it was Akram who scored it. Pedro started the move after winning the ball in the box; Bounedjah then tried a shot but the deflected ball fell into the path of Akram, who scored with a first-time effort.
Four minutes later, Steven Nzonzi reduced the deficit for Al-Rayyan by flicking the ball in past Saad Al-Sheeb after a corner.
There were no more concrete chances for Al-Sadd in the second half, but Al-Sheeb helped the team maintain the lead with a superb save off Yohan Boli in the dying minutes.
Al-Sadd coach Juanma brought on Hassan Al-Haydos and Khoukhi Boualem for their first appearances of the season and the team held on for their third win of the season.
MATCH DETAILS
Al Sadd x Al Rayyan (2022-23 QNB Stars League Round 9)
Venue
Thani bin Jassim Stadium
Lineups
Al-Sadd: Saad Al Sheeb, Pedro Miguel, Ahmed Sayyar (Hassan Al-Haydos), Jung Woo-young, Baghdad Bounedjah, Rodrigo Tabata, Santi Cazorla, Andre Ayew, Bahaa Mamdouh, Ahmed Suhail (Khoukhi Boualem), Akram Afif
Al-Rayyan: Ivanildo, Mowafak Awad, Shogo Taniguchi, Mohammed Siraj, Yaser Hamed, Ibrahim Masoud, Mohammed Juma, Osama Abdulkarim, Yohan Boli, Abdulaziz Hatem, Steven Nzonzi
Result
Al-Sadd won 2-1
Goals
Andre Ayew 7′
Akram Afif 51′
Steven Nzonzi 56′
Bookings
Yaser Hamed 20′
Steven Nzonzi 72′
Almakki Mohsen 77′
Akram Afif 89′
Referees
Meshari Al-Shammari (referee)
Ramzan Al-Ramzani (assistant 1)
Sultan Al-Shammari (assistant 2)
Mohammed Nasser (fourth official)
