(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Reigning champions Al Sadd fought their way to a battling 4-1 opening-day victory over promoted side Al Wakrah in Week 1 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
Al Sadd's goals were scored by Abdulaziz Al Ansari (ninth minute), Abdelkarim Hassan (74th) and Ahmed Sayyar (84th and 90th minutes).
Al Wakrah's goal came from Mohamed Benyettou in the 26th minute.
As favourites coming into the match, it was no surprise when Al Sadd took an early lead. Only nine minutes in, Al Ansari chased down a through ball before fighting off the exertions of Ahmed Al Hamawende and slotting home from the edge of the area with a shot that wrong-footed opposition goalkeeper Al Khater.
Al Wakrah's task got harder following Ali Karami's sending-off. At that point, the writing seemed to be on the wall. However, they got back into the game with a goal when Priesto's cross found Benyettou inside the penalty area.
With the clock ticking, Al Wakrah's brave, 10-man resistance was beaten for a second time when Al Ansari combined with Al Haydous to create chaos in the box and Abdelkarim was on hand to fire home.
The scores widened late on as Sayyar contributed two more goals to make it 4-1 for The Wolves.
The result marks a perfect start to the campaign for Al Sadd, but Al Wakrah will have taken a lot of positives from this match.
For coach Xavi Hernandez this is the fourth wein of the season.
Al Sadd started the local season by winning the season opening Sheikh Jassim Cup by defeating Al Duhail 1-0.
Earlier, Al Sadd defeated Al Duhail in two back-to-back matches of the AFC Champions League pre-quarter-final matches to make it to the quarter-finals of the continental championship.
Xavi, who replaced Portuguese Jesualdo Ferreira after ending his playing career at the end of last season has now won four matches so far as coach, three against Al Duhail, two in the AFC Champions League pre-quarter-finals and one in the Sheikh Jassim Cup besides yesterday win against Al Wakrah.
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