(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice to take his personal tally to 28 goals and became the QNB Stars League's (QSL) all-time top scorer in a single season as Al Sadd defeated Al Shahania 4-1 yesterday.
In their round-16 match which took place at the Al Arabi Stadium, Qatar international Hassan Al Haydous (23rd and 90+1 minutes) and ace Bounedjah (50th and 76th minutes) scored for Al Sadd, while Luciano Vazquez found Al Shahania's consolation goal in the 42nd minute.
Bounedjah surpassed Brazilian striker Clemerson Soares' record of 27 goals set in the 2007-08 season for Al Gharafa.
Al Sadd are now on 35 points, one less than champions Al Duhail, who drew 1-1 with Qatar SC in the day's earlier kick-off.
The Wolves are also level with Al Duhail in the number of victories so far this season (11).
Al Shahania remained on 16 points.
As expected, Al Sadd dominated possession and scripted more opportunities, substantiated by 63 per cent of ball possession by them at half-time. Interestingly, they maintained the same percentage at the end of the game.
After Al Shahania's Kesse Amanguoa was thwarted by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari, Bounedjah missed a sitter, with rival goalkeeper Amer Al Amri parrying the ball with his leg.
Al Haydous opened the scoring by slotting home a rebound after Akram Afif attempted first at the goal.
Al Shahania were in no mood to relent, even though they had to play second fiddle to their formidable opponents in the second half, and drew parity as Luciano sent in the ball off a cross from the left by Kesse.
Al Sadd fired in three more goals after resumption, with Bounedjah being on target twice, to surpass upstage Clemerson, and Al Haydous one more time.
Earlier, Murad Naji equalised in the 75th minute to save Al Duhail as Qatar SC and the table toppers shared points in a 1-1 draw.
At Al Duhail Stadium, Osama Omari put Qatar SC ahead in the 22nd minute, a lead that was neutralised by Naji. Both goals came off free-kicks.
Al Duhail took their points tally to 36 and Qatar SC 15.
It was the third time that holders Al Duhail were dropping points this season. Nevertheless, they maintained their unbeaten run, the only team to do so.
Cameroonian star Samuel Eto'o returned to the Qatar SC fold and that strengthened their attack, with Osama and Hussein Ali contributing to the team's cause. Al Duhail continued to miss South Korean midfielder Nam Tae-Hee, who got injured while doing duty for his country during the last international break.
Qatar SC matched Al Duhail ball by ball and even shocked the hosts by taking the lead.
Goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker completely misjudged the flight of the ball after Osama took the free-kick from the left. Neither did the defenders do anything about it. The free-kick was awarded when Al Duhail defender Naji ‘handled' the ball.
Al Duhail created more chances, but nothing too strong that could give them a goal. Paolo Edmilson tried to split open the Qatar SC defence. So did Yousef El Arabi and Almoez Ali. All in vain.
The closest Al Duhail came to scoring in the first half was when Ali Afif sent a first-time volley over the bar off a cross by Edmilson from the right.
A Duhail started the second half by replacing Luis Martin with Under-23 player Hazem Ahmed.
Hazem immediately made his mark by moving forward and that resulted in a collision involving him and Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail.
Naji then came up with a long-ranger that went just wide on the hour mark. However, the right-back was not to be denied as he struck the equaliser for Al Duhail.
Indeed, Naji made amends for the offence he committed that led to Qatar SC's goal in similar fashion as he sent in a free-kick past the outstretched hands of Al Hail.
Al Duhail intensified their efforts as the game wore on, but could not find the winner.
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