QNB Stars League: Al-Sadd defeat Al-Arabi 4-0

Al-Sadd defeated Al-Arabi 4-0 in the QNB Stars League Round 5 clash at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.

After a goalless first half, Al-Sadd scored through Baghdad Bounedjah (59′, 75′), Hassan Al-Haydos (61′) and Andre Ayew (82′) to secure the big derby win. The result means Al-Sadd top the league table with 15 points.

The game did not see any real opportunities in the beginning of the first half, before Baghdad Bounedjah’s header off Hassan Al-Haydos’s cross in the 11th minute was saved by Al-Arabi keeper Mahmoud Abunada.

Two minutes later, Ali Asad got past the defenders coming at him, and played in a low cross towards the advancing Bounedjah, but the Algerian’s shot came back off the post.

Then, Al-Sadd celebrated what they thought was the opening goal in the 23rd minute, when Ali Asad’s superb shot from outside the box flew in past Abunada. However, the referee ruled the goal out after a VAR review, due to a foul from Bounedjah on Ahmed Fathi in the build-up.

Al-Sadd kept up their efforts for the remainder of the first half, and Andre Ayew had a go at goal with a powerful shot in the 40th minute, but it was deflected out for a corner.

Following the halftime break, the Wolves emerged with more determination to break the deadlock and their efforts bore fruit close to the hour mark. Bounedjah got the breakthrough goal in the 59th minute, reacting fastest to reach a rebounded shot after Abunada had saved Abdelkarim Hassan’s initial effort.

Just a couple of minutes later, Al-Sadd had doubled their lead, after Al-Haydos sent a great strike from distance into the bottom right corner.

Bounedjah then returned to get his second of the night and make it 3-0, finishing off in style after a great through ball from Akram Afif.

The final goal of the game came in the 82nd minute, and it was from a penalty. The referee pointed to the spot after Afif was brought down in the box, and Andre Ayew stepped up to convert the kick and complete a 4-0 derby win.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Arabi (QNB Stars League 2021-22 – Round 5)

Venue:

Khalifa International Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel (Musaab Khidir), Jung Woo-young, Hassan Al Haydos (Ahmed Sayyar), Ali Asad (Rodrigo Tabata), Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif (Yusuf Abdurisag), Abdelkarim Hassan (Mohammed Waad), Guilherme, Tarek Salman, Andre Ayew

Al-Arabi: Mahmoud Abunada, Mohammed Bader Sayyar, Abdullah Maarafi, Ahmed Fathi, Mehrdad Mohammadi, Aron Gunnarson, Hamid Ismail, Aaron Boupendza, Yousuf Muftah, Fahad Shanin, Youssef Msakni

Result:

Al-Sadd won 4-0

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah 59′, 72′
Hassan Al-Haydos 61′
Andre Ayew 82′ (P)

Bookings:

Aaron Boupendza 43′

Referees:

Main referee: Khamees Al Marri
Assistant referee: Taleb Salem
Assistant referee: Zahi Al-Shammari
Fourth official: Yousuf Al-Sharshani