(MENAFN- The Peninsula) chinthana wasala |
The Peninsula
Doha: Reigning champions Al Sadd returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over traditional rivals Al Rayyan yesterday in their QNB Stars League Round 9 clash - dubbed Qatar Clasico.
Andre Ayew (7th minute) and Akram Afif (52nd minute), both returning to the team after the FIFA World Cup, were on target for the Wolves - clad in their new blue-coloured outfit at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.
Andre Ayew scores Al Sadd's first goal. Pictures: AMR Diab
Former France international Steven Nzonzi pulled one back in the 56th minute for Al Rayyan.
Yesterday's victory lifted Al Sadd's points tally to 10 as they seek to return to the top of the table.
With a postponed match against Qatar SC from Week 8 still in hand, Al Sadd are now in the ninth spot.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan remained on four points following their seventh loss in the season.
Al Sadd yesterday welcomed back their key players including Saad Al Sheeb, Pedro Miguel, Afif, Boualam Khoukhi, Musab Kheder, captain Hassan Al Haydos as well as South Korea's Jung Woo-young and Ghanian Ayew, returning after featuring in the FIFA World Cup.
Both teams still missed the services of some of their players, who are representing Qatar at the ongoing Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq. But the absences seemed to have affected Al Rayyan more yesterday.
Al Sadd made an attacking approach right from the start, as Ayew, who received a close pass from Algerian international Baghdad Bounedjah put them ahead early in the game.
Former Qatar captain Rodrigo Tabata could have doubled the lead in the 21st minute but he shot off the target.
Ivorian Yohan Boli almost levelled the scores in 24th minute, but Al Sheeb made a brilliant save to keep them hunting for their opening goal.
In the second half, Al Rayyan intensified pressure and young player Mohammed Siraj almost scored the equaliser two minutes after returning from the break, but Al Sheeb again thwarted the effort before Afif doubled the lead right after Bounedjah's attempt at the goal was saved.
Al Rayyan finally found the net through the tall Frenchman who ankled in a corner kick for his first goal for The Lions in QSL.
Attempts continued by both sides and Al Rayyan's Boli almost scored an equaliser in stoppage time with a header, but the Al Sadd goalkeeper was too good to beat as The Wolves pulled their campaign back on track as chase their third QSL title in a row.
Earlier, at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Duhail returned to the top of the standings when they came from behind to beat Umm Salal 3-1.
The victory raised the former champions' points tally to 20, while Umm Salal stood on seven points at the 10th spot.
Al Duhail players celebrate after scoring a goal against Umm Salal.
Al Duhail trailed 0-1 at half-time, but rallied strongly to make the comeback. Umm Salal held sway in the opening half and were put ahead just before the break by their new signing Valentino Yuel, who scored in the 43rd minute. The equaliser for Al Duhail came late in the second half from Bassam Al Rawi (81) before Michael Olunga scored a brace in the 87th minute (off a penalty) and in 90+5th minute.
Qatar SC crush Al Gharafa 5-0
Elsewhere, Ben Malango scored a thrilling hat-trick as Qatar SC handed Al Gharafa a 5-0 defeat at the Al Duhail Stadium.
Congolese Malango struck in the 25th, 59th and 80th minutes. Javi Martinez (50th minute) and Bashar Resan (70th minute) were the other scorers.