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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Champions Al Sadd began their QNB Stars League campaign with a 4-1 victory over a resilient Al Wakrah at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday.
Al Duhail on the other hand, needed a late Almoez Ali strike to beat Qatar Sports Club 2-1 in the late game at the Al Janoub Stadium.
The scoreline tells a different tale but Al Wakrah made the champions sweat for the win as Xavi Hernandez continues his unbeaten run as coach.
Goals from Aziz al Ansari, Abdelkarim Hassan and a double from Ahmed Sayyer ensured a winning start for the Wolves who were without last season’s top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah and new signing Nam Tae-hee.
The Wolves also suffered an injury scare as Akram Afif was forced off due to an injury in the first half.
Al Sadd were on the front foot from kick off and got off to a brilliant start as Ansari scored the opener nine minutes in after Afif’s pass over the top found the striker in space.
It went from bad to worse for the league newcomers as Ali Karami was shown a straight red card in the 15th minute after a clumsy foul on Afif who was clean through on goal.
But the Wolves got themselves back in the game just before the half hour mark when Algerian Mohamed Benyettou found the back of the net with a crisp finish.
Al Sadd however, made their one man advantage count when a tired Wakrah defence failed to deal with Ansari’s cross as Hassan fired home from close range in the 74th minute.
Despite Saoud Mubarak’s best efforts, Sadd extended their lead 10 minutes later when Sayyer stroked home his first of the night before sealing the tie in the 90th minute.
Duhail overcome QSC scare
In the late match, Almoez Ali scored his first goal fir Al Duhail in as many games as the Red Knights avoided a shock start to the season.
Al Duhail dominated the game but it was Qatar Sports Club who took the lead on the hour mark after a goalless first half. Congolese striker Junior Kalonji rifled into the roof of the net from a counter attack after good work from Abdenasser El Khayati.
Carlos Alos’s men however were no match for Duhail’s quality and Yousef Msakni started the late comeback two minutes from time. The Tunisian slotted in a rebound after Edmilson Junior’s shot was spilled by the otherwise impressive Adel al Hail in goal for Al Wakrah.
Almoez completed the comeback for the Amir Cup champions in added time with a clean strike down into the bottom corner of net after being set up by Msakni.
RESULTS: Al Sadd 4 (Abdulaziz al Ansari 9’, Abdelkarim Hassan 74’, Ahmed Sayyar 84’, 90’) bt Al Wakrah 1 (Mohamed Benyettou 26’); Al Duhail 2 (Youssef Msakni 88’, Almoez Ali 92’) bt Qatar Sports Club 1 (Junior Kabananga 60’).
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22/08/2019
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