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ikoli victor
doha
Akram Afif scores a brace to inspire Al Sadd to a 4-0 victory over Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico on Saturday and take them one step closer to winning the QNB Stars League.
After an impressive hat-trick last weekend against Al Khor, the Asian Cup winner was back to his scintillating best, this was his 19th goal of the seaosn for Al Sadd, now the second best scorer in the league alongside Youssef El Arabi, rounded off by a clinical finish before he was substituted late on.
Baghdad Bounedjah added another goal to his record-goal scoring exploit with Al Sadd’s opener in the 33rd minute for his 31st goal of the season in 17 matches. Asian player of the year Abdulkarim Hasan got a goal for himself with a thumping header. The result left Al Duhail still second, four points behind Al Sadd with five matches still to conclude the season. It was the biggest match of the round and the rivalry between the two sides made fans of both the clubs throng to the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to witness the encounter.
Fans were not disappointed as the teams sized up each other in the early exchanges. But it was Hassan al Haydos curling strike that crashed to the top in the 20th minute that signaled where the tide will turn.
Rayyan were no pushover as they responded with striker Lucca Borges’ low shot that almost embarrassed Qatar’s safest hands Saad al Sheeb but he managed to force a corner kick.
Hamid Ismaeil saw lots of the ball from the right flank and his cross in the 25th minute into the box was acrobatically taken by Pedro Miguel but was blocked for a corner kick.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s men pressed on as Afif found space inside the opponent’s box then squared the ball for Spanish star Gabi, whose shot was parried by Fahad Baker and the rebound was volleyed into the net by Bounedjah on 33 minutes. Two minutes later, Hasan made it 2-0 with a thumping header from a cross into the box.
In the second period, a video assistant referee (VAR) decision gives Al Sadd a penalty after South Korean Ko Myong-Jin held Pedro inside the box, Afif made no mistake from the spot in the 62nd minute.
Afif completed his brace in the 72nd minute when Bounedjah’s through pass put him on goal to slot the ball past the rushing keeper.
Referee Khamis Mohamed al Kuwari resorted to the VAR again after Sebastian Soria’s stamp on Hamid Ismael’s knee. The former Qatari striker was shown a second yellow card and hus marching order in the 76th minute. Al Sadd’s former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi received his 9th career red for a foul with the closing minute.
Al Sadd were deserved winners with better possession and chances created, seven of their 13 shots were on target.
Elsewhere, Al Gharafa and Al Duhail played out an entertaining goalless draw on Saturday at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium. The result dents Duhail’s title chance as they are now four points behind leaders Al Sadd. While, Al Gharafa with 19 points stays in eighth place.
doha
Akram Afif scores a brace to inspire Al Sadd to a 4-0 victory over Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico on Saturday and take them one step closer to winning the QNB Stars League.
After an impressive hat-trick last weekend against Al Khor, the Asian Cup winner was back to his scintillating best, this was his 19th goal of the seaosn for Al Sadd, now the second best scorer in the league alongside Youssef El Arabi, rounded off by a clinical finish before he was substituted late on.
Baghdad Bounedjah added another goal to his record-goal scoring exploit with Al Sadd’s opener in the 33rd minute for his 31st goal of the season in 17 matches. Asian player of the year Abdulkarim Hasan got a goal for himself with a thumping header. The result left Al Duhail still second, four points behind Al Sadd with five matches still to conclude the season. It was the biggest match of the round and the rivalry between the two sides made fans of both the clubs throng to the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium to witness the encounter.
Fans were not disappointed as the teams sized up each other in the early exchanges. But it was Hassan al Haydos curling strike that crashed to the top in the 20th minute that signaled where the tide will turn.
Rayyan were no pushover as they responded with striker Lucca Borges’ low shot that almost embarrassed Qatar’s safest hands Saad al Sheeb but he managed to force a corner kick.
Hamid Ismaeil saw lots of the ball from the right flank and his cross in the 25th minute into the box was acrobatically taken by Pedro Miguel but was blocked for a corner kick.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s men pressed on as Afif found space inside the opponent’s box then squared the ball for Spanish star Gabi, whose shot was parried by Fahad Baker and the rebound was volleyed into the net by Bounedjah on 33 minutes. Two minutes later, Hasan made it 2-0 with a thumping header from a cross into the box.
In the second period, a video assistant referee (VAR) decision gives Al Sadd a penalty after South Korean Ko Myong-Jin held Pedro inside the box, Afif made no mistake from the spot in the 62nd minute.
Afif completed his brace in the 72nd minute when Bounedjah’s through pass put him on goal to slot the ball past the rushing keeper.
Referee Khamis Mohamed al Kuwari resorted to the VAR again after Sebastian Soria’s stamp on Hamid Ismael’s knee. The former Qatari striker was shown a second yellow card and hus marching order in the 76th minute. Al Sadd’s former Atletico Madrid captain Gabi received his 9th career red for a foul with the closing minute.
Al Sadd were deserved winners with better possession and chances created, seven of their 13 shots were on target.
Elsewhere, Al Gharafa and Al Duhail played out an entertaining goalless draw on Saturday at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium. The result dents Duhail’s title chance as they are now four points behind leaders Al Sadd. While, Al Gharafa with 19 points stays in eighth place.
