(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha: Reigning champions Al Sadd stayed on top of the QNB Stars League (QSL) standings after clinching a thrilling 6-4 victory over hosts Al Gharafa yesterday.
After their sixth straight win, Al Sadd are now on 18 points with Al Duhail keeping their pursuit after an emphatic 3-0 victory over Al Rayyan in last night's other game at Al Gharafa Stadium. The Red Knights have a game in hands as they will meet Al Wakrah on October 21 in a rescheduled match.
Yesterday's first match at the Al Gharafa Stadium saw flurry of goals with Baghdad Bounedjah celebrating his QFA's top scorer award with strikes in seventh and 51st minutes. Hassan Al Haydous (14th and 40th minutes) and Andrew Ayew (89th minute) also scored for Al Sadd, who also benefited from an own goal from Al Gharafa's Saifeldeen Fadlalla in the 17th minute.
Al Gharafa also put up a spirited fight with Cheick Diabate (21st and 45th minutes), Saifeldeen Fadlalla (29th minute) and Ahmed Alaaeldin (57th minute) scoring for them.
Bounedjah, assisted by Rodrigo Tabata, scored his first goal clipping the ball over keeper Yousef Hassan. Al Sadd soon doubled their lead when Al Haydous – on the right flank – clipped in a cross for his forwards but his shot got deflected by marker Saeed El Hajj's foot. The ball looped high above and dropped over the head of the Al Gharafa keeper and crashed into the net.
In 17th minute, Al Haydous was in the Al Gharafa box, but his cross for a team-mate was deflected into the goal by Al Gharafa's Under-19 player Fadlalla for an own goal.
Al Gharafa then put an end to the Al Sadd goal glut as Diabate – after receiving a short cross inside the box – drilled the ball into the net from close range.
Close to the half-hour mark, the match witnessed the fifth goal when Fadlalla compensated for his lapse by slotting the ball into the Al Sadd net when Sofiane Hanni's penalty kick was saved by keeper Meshaal Barsham.
Al Sadd jumped to a 4-2 lead after Al Haydous drilled the ball from the edge of the Al Gharafa box into the net following an assist from Akram Afif.
The 2020-21 QFA's 'Best Player of the Year' Santi Cazorla, winner of the Mansour Muftah Award 'Top Scorer of the Season' - Baghdad Bounedjah, and 'Best Coach of the Season' - Xavi Hernandez with their awards ahead of yesterday's QNB Stars League match against Al Gharafa.
Five minutes later, Diabate – after receiving a cross from Hanni close to the half-line – charged ahead solo. Following a long run, Diabate easily slotted the ball past the Al Sadd keeper.
An Al Haydous-Bounedjah 1-2 saw the Algerian striker score his second of the match as Al Sadd went 5-3 up before Al Gharafa's Alaaeldin tapped the ball into the net from close range after a long cross by Fadlalla to make it 4-5 for his side.
Ayew added to Al Sadd's bulging tally when he scored from close range late into the game.
Later at the same venue, James Rodriguez had a disappointing debut for Al Rayyan, who suffered second defeat this QSL season.
Al Duhail were clearly a better side, taking six shots on target as the Colombia star failed to impress in his first match in Qatar.
The Red Knights scored their first two goals through penalties with Edmilson Junior and Almoez Ali being the scorers in third and 40th minutes respectively. Michael Olunga sealed the win with a strike in 55th minute.
Earlier at Al Khor Stadium, the hosts staged a late fightback to hold Al Ahli to a 2-2 draw.
Patrick Eze (53rd minute) and Abdulrahman Al Harazi (63rd minute) took Al Ahli ahead before Al Khor bounced back after goals from Rafael Vaz (82nd minute) and Ismail Haddad (88th minute).
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