(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Baghdad Bounedjah and Akram Afif struck either side of half-time as Al Sadd moved closer to their first league title in six years with a 2-0 win over Al Sailiya yesterday.
The meteoric rise of Lekhwiya, now named Al Duhail, had stolen Al Sadd's thunder after Al Sadd had claimed their 13th and last title in the 2012-13 season.
But four defeats for Al Duhail this season so far saw Al Sadd gain the upper hand, and yesterday's convincing win helped them maintain a four-point lead (50-46) with three matches remaining in the tournament.
It was Al Sadd's 16th victory, the most by any team, as The Wolves, coached by Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira, asserted their supremacy over Al Sailiya.
Al Sadd had dropped two crucial points after being held to a 1-1 draw by Al Sailiya in the first leg. This time around, The Peregrines had to play second fiddle to their formidable rivals.
Al Sailiya had the ignominy of having their goalkeeper Saoud al-Khater sent off following his foul on Akram in the 64th minute. The Peregrines were also unlucky when Abdulkadir Ilyas missed a penalty, blocked by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al-Dossari, awarded after a free-kick hit the hand of defender Boualem Khoukhi.
Ilyas was on target towards the end, but the lanky striker's effort was ruled offside by referee Saoud Ali Al Athba.
Al Sadd, for whom Spanish midfield maestro Xavi took the field after one hour following his return from an injury layoff, dominated the game with 60 per cent of possession and four corner kicks, compared to three by Al Sailiya.
Tournament top scorer Bounedjah took Al Sadd ahead in the 18th minute by heading in a cross from the left by Abdelkarim Hassan, who was adjudged the best player in Asia last year.
Akram then found the mark in the 84th minute after latching on to a long through pass as Al Sadd coasted to yet another victory.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail bounced back from a goal down to defeat Umm Salal 3-1.
Last two season's league top scorer and Moroccan striker Yousef El Arabi (64th and 90+1 minutes) and substitute Mohamed Muntari (90+4) scored the goals for Al Duhail as the reigning champions stayed in the hunt for the title.
It was the 14th victory of The Red Knights, who dominated with 65 per cent ball possession and earned eight corner kicks compared to Umm Salal's three.
Lawrence Quaye had put Umm Salal ahead in the 54th minute following a goalless first half, where both teams' efforts did not fetch any goal.
Al Duhail now have 46 points, four less than Al Sadd, ahead of the heavyweight clash between them in the next round.
Umm Salal, who stayed on 20 points, thus crashed to their third successive defeat, and sixth this season. The Orange Fortress had lost to Al Kharaitiyat and Al Khor, both by a 0-1 margin, in the previous rounds.
Umm Salal took a surprise lead when Quaye capitalised on a goalmouth melee and resultant confusion for Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine Lecomte following a free-kick taken by Mahmoud Al Mawas from the left.
El Arabi drew Al Duhail level two minutes later, slotting home a swift cross by Paolo Edmilson from the right.
El Arabi was at it again in the first minute of added time as he found the net after Ali Afif did a brilliant spadework from the left.
Muntari, who came off the bench to replace Murad Naji in the 55th minute, then rounded off the tally right at the death.
Umm Salal had a penalty appeal ruled out by referee Salman Falahi, who referred to Video Assistant Referee, after Yannick Sagbo appeared to have been fouled.
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