Al-Sadd opened their 2020-21 QNB Stars League campaign with a 5-1 win over Al-Kharaitiyat, in the Round 1 game that was played at the Education City Stadium.
Santi Cazorla’s 27th minute strike gave the Wolves a 1-0 lead at halftime, and Baghdad Bounedjah doubled the advantage in the 54th minute. Cazorla then added a third goal in the 60th minute, before Rachid Tiberkanine pulled one back for Al-Kharaitiyat four minutes later. In the 71st minute, Al-Sadd made it 4-1 from a Mohammad Salam own goal. Akram Afif then came off the bench to complete the scoring in the 85th minute.
Al-Sadd got going from the first whistle and looked dangerous, showing intent early on. Summer signing Cazorla had a go at goal, but his strike got deflected out for a corner.
The Spanish magician then got on the scoresheet after a superb move in the 27th minute. Hassan Al-Haydos sent a ball in, which was backheeled by Bounedjah on to the path of Cazorla, who slammed home for his second goal in as many games, and his first in the QSL.
Al-Sadd continued to dominate for the remainder of the first half, but Al-Kharaitiyat goalkeeper Shehab Mamdouh denied the Wolves a second goal with several saves, and they went into halftime with the 1-0 lead.
The second goal finally arrived, when Bounedjah struck in the 54th minute. The Algerian received a pass from Al Haydos, and then raced into the box before lobbing the keeper to double Al-Sadd’s lead. The referee initially did not give the goal after the linesman raised his flag for offside, but eventually he overturned the decision, following a VAR review.
In the 60th minute, Cazorla scored again and it was a wonderful strike, as his powerful effort from outside the box flew into the top left corner.
Four minutes later, Rachid Tiberkanine reduced the deficit for Al-Kharaitiyat, when he took advantage of a mistake from the Al-Sadd defence to fire in a shot that slipped past Saad Al-Dosari.
Al-Sadd then restored their three-goal lead in the 71st minute, when Abdelkarim Hassan’s shot was deflected in by Al-Kharaitiyat defender Mohammad Salam.
Substitute Akram Afif then got on the scoresheet in the 85th minute. He got to the end of Yousuf Abdurisag’s deflected shot, to conclude the scoring and give Al-Sadd a 5-1 opening day win.
MATCHDAY
Al-Sadd x Al-Kharaitiyat (QNB Stars League Round 1)
Venue:
Education City Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Tarek Salman (Ahmed Suhail), Abdelkarim Hassan, Jung Woo-young, Guilherme, Hashim Ali (Akram Afif), Santi Cazorla, Hassan Al-Haydos (Yousuf Abdurisag), Baghdad Bounedjah (Mohammed Waad), Nam Tae-hee (Rodrigo Tabata), Pedro Miguel
Al-Kharaitiyat: Shehab El-Leithy, Ahmed Abdulhayy, Elhaj Mohammad, Mohammed Othman, Almadhi Khamassi, Mohammed Salam, Rachid Tiberkanine, Mahmoud Saad, Mohammed Shabaan, Abdulrahman Mohammed, Pejman Montazeri
Result:
Al-Sadd won 5-1
Goals:
Santi Cazorla 24’, 60’
Baghdad Bounedjah 54’
Rachid Tiberkanine 64’
Mohammed Salam 71’
Akram Afif 85’
Bookings:
Tarek Salman 16’
Mohammed Salam 55’
Abdulhadi Numan 83’
Referees:
Abdullah Al Athba (Main referee)
Faisal Al Athba (Assistant referee)
Abdullah Hendi (Assistant referee)
Sultan Al Sharshani (Fourth official)
