QNB Stars League: Al-Sadd stay top after 4-1 win over Al-Wakrah

Al-Sadd defeated Al-Wakrah 4-1 in their QNB Stars League Round 8 clash, which was played at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Tuesday.

The result means that Al-Sadd remain on top of the league table with 22 points from 8 games. Hassan Al-Haydos (3′), Abdelkarim Hassan (15′), Baghdad Bounedjah (71′) and Akram Afif (77′) scored Al-Sadd’s goal, while Al-Wakrah’s lone strike was an own goal (69′).

Al-Sadd got off to a great start in the game, with an early goal from Hassan Al-Haydos giving them the breakthrough in the third minute. Abdelkarim Hassan slipped through a pass for Al-Haydos, who got into the box and finished past Al-Wakrah keeper Saoud Al-Khater.

Abdelkarim then got on the scoresheet in the 14th minute, receiving a pass from Santi Cazorla before letting go from outside the box. The powerful shot left the keeper with no chance and Al-Sadd were 2-0 up.

Al-Sadd maintained their two-goal lead and their control on the game for the rest of the half. Akram Afif had a goal disallowed in the 40th minute for offside, before his stoppage time shot went on to hit the crossbar.

In the second half, the Wolves picked up from where they had left off and had a great chance to score in the 53rd minute, when Akram sent a through ball for the oncoming Abdelkarim, who had two shots on goal but both were kept out by the Wakrah defence.

Xavi made his first substitution in the 57th minute, bringing on Yousuf Abdurisag in place of Hashim Ali to freshen up the attack. A couple of minutes later, Yousuf sent in a cross aimed towards Akram, but Al-Khater intervened and cleared the danger before the ball reached him.

In the 69th minute, Al-Wakrah reduced the deficit. A delivery from Murad Naji on the right went in past Meshaal Barsham, after a deflection off Akram’s head.

Al-Sadd’s reply came very quickly, with Bounedjah turning on the edge of the Wakrah box and scoring with a low shot past Al-Khater in the 71st minute.

Akram then scored Al-Sadd’s fourth goal in the 77th minute, meeting Abdelkarim’s cross from the left with a first-time finish.

Al-Sadd continued to dominate proceedings thereafter, with the introduction of fresh players Mohammed Waad, Musaab Khidir and Rodrigo Tabata making things easier, before the referee blew the final whistle to signal a 4-1 win for Al-Sadd.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Wakrah (2020-21 QNB Stars League Round 8)

Venue:

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Jung Woo-young, Hassan Al-Haydos (Mohammed Waad), Baghdad Bounedjah, Guilherme, Boualem Khoukhi, Santi Cazorla, Hashim Ali (Yousuf Abdurisag), Akram Afif

Al-Wakrah: Saoud Al Khater, Lucas Mendes, Ali Malollah, Isaias Sanchez, Mohammed Benyettou, Cristian Ceballos, Murad Naji, Omar Ali, Abdulla Al-Muftah, Ousmane Coulibaly, Riadh Nasser

Result:

Al-Sadd won 4-1

Goals:

Hassan Al-Haydos 3′
Abdelkarim Hassan 15′
Ousmane Coulibaly 69′
Baghdad Bounedjah 71′
Akram Afif 77′

Bookings:

Hashim Ali 35′
Mohammed Waad 75′

Referees:

Hamad Al-Subaiei (main referee)
Khaled Ayed (assistant 1)
Nasser El Dos (assistant 2)
Gamal Hussain (fourth official)