(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Leaders Al Sadd took a giant step towards QNB Stars League title after Baghdad Bounedjah's hat-trick powered them to a 3-1 win over Al Duhail in a marquee clash yesterday. At the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, hosts Al Sadd went a goal down in the sixth minute after Almoez Ali gave the holders Al Duhail the lead from the penalty spot in the 6th minute.
But thereafter it was Bounedjah show all the way as the Algerian poacher showed why he is the best striker in Qatar's top flight. The striker scored in the 14th, 50th and 87th minutes as the Wolves remained unbeaten in the league to open up an 11-point lead over bitter rivals Al Duhail, who are second with 27 points
Al Sadd head coach Xavi Hernandez was delighted with the result. 'We played an amazing game and I am proud of the performance of all the players. It was a very good performance and we managed to come back after score thrice after conceding a goal, the Spaniard said.
'The team's positive and collective spirit was the basis for this important win. We were the better side. We changed the dynamics of Qatari football and we have always been the best. We must continue working. We haven't achieved anything yet and we must maintain the lead at the top of the table until the end, he added.
The game between the top sides in the league began with entertaining action from the beginning, as Al Sadd threatened the Duhail goal early on. In just the third minute of the match, Al Sadd keeper Meshaal ِBarsham stepped out of his box to kill a long cross from the Al Duhail half. Barsham attempted to clear the ball, but hit new recruit Michael Olunga with his shot. To the relief of Al Sadd fans, the ball slipped away from the empty goalmouth with keeper Barsham in no position to run back to his position.
Two minutes later, Al Duhail stunned Al Sadd fans. Almoez, after receiving a long cross, charged towards the Al Sadd box with Abdelkarim Hassan giving hot chase. Just as Almoez sneaked into the box, Abdelkarim's tackle from the back saw the Qatar national team star fall down. Referee Abdulhadi al-Ruaile, after seeking VAR assistance, pointed to the spot and the penalty was easily converted by Almoez.
In the 12th minute, Hassan al-Haydous curled in a spectacular shot from the edge of the box, but Al Duhail keeper Salah Zakaria blocked the shot with closed fists. Two minutes later, Al Sadd struck back.
Bounedjah, after receiving a cross from al-Haydous on the flank, hoodwinked Ismail Mohammed as he entered the Al Duhail box from the flank. Just as Al Duhail's Mehdi Benatia charged ahead to block the move, Bounedjah successfully worked on an acute angle to slip the ball past the outstretched left hand of the keeper.
In the 23rd minute, Paulo Edmilson of Al Duhail volleyed on a short cross from Almoez inside the Al Sadd box, but his shot was blocked by keeper Barsham. Three minutes later, Al Duhail's Eduardo Rodrigues delivered a right-footed shot from the edge of the box, but his shot was parried away by the keeper.
In the 33rd minute, former Arsenal player Santiago Cazorla hit the Al Duhail crossbar off a direct free-kick as Al Sadd mounted relentless attacks. Al Sadd's Nam Tae-Hee also impressed with his quick moves in the first half. In the 36th minute, the Korean international unleashed a swinging shot from the edge of the box, but Al Duhail keeper caught the ball.
Maintaining their attacking game from the first half, Al Sadd jumped to a 2-1 lead early in the second half. After a goalmouth melee, Bounedjah showed great alertness to tap the ball from close range in the 50th minute. With three Al Duhail defenders blocking his path, Bounedjah still managed to tap the ball into the top of the net.
In the 61st minute, Olunga, inside the Al Sadd box, swivelled and let go off a shot that sailed above the crossbar. Six minutes later, al-Haydous curled in a free-kick, but his snapheader from inside the box was a little wayward.
In what could be described unfortunate, al-Haydos missed an easy chance to score in the 78th minute. Bounedjah, under pressure from Al Duhail keeper, flicked back a cross to unmarked al-Haydous standing inside the box with acres of space to shoot the ball into the net. But the Al Sadd star's hurriedly-taken shot missed the target from inside the box.
Three minutes from time, Bounedjah picked up a neat cross from substitute Akram Afif before charging into the Al Duhail box. As the Al Duhail keeper left his position to kill the move, Bounedjah calmly slotted the ball home to complete his hat-trick in the second successive match.
In another match, Al Rayyan beat the high-flying Qatar SC 2-1. Al Rayyan's goals were scored by Yohan Boli (45+1) and Shojae Khalilzadeh (54th minute). Qatar SC's reply came through Youcef Belaili (79th minute). The Lions climbed to fifth in the table with 22 points, while Qatar SC stay at third place with 23 points.
Earlier, Al Sailiya defeated Al Kharaitiyat 2-0 at the Al Ahli Stadium. Abdulqadir Ilyas (27th minute) and Mohanad Ali (51st minute) scored the goals as Al Sailiya took their tally to 18 points and are eighth.
Bottom-placed Al Kharaitiyat remained on six points following their 12th defeat, the worst record by any side in the 12-team tournament.
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