AFC Champions League: Khoukhi brace gives Al-Sadd a 2-1 win over Al-Ahli

Khoukhi Boualem scored twice as Al-Sadd registered a 2-1 win over Saudi side Al-Ahli in the first leg of their 2018 AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash on Monday evening at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Al-Sadd began the match on the front foot and were rewarded by an early goal, when Khoukhi Boualem scored in the third minute. After a great exchange of passes with Xavi, Boualem scored past Al-Ahli keeper Mohammed Al Owais to make it 1-0.

The Wolves went on to impose their control on the match and threatened the Al-Ahli goal on multiple occasions, with both Xavi and Hassan Al-Haydos coming close to doubling the lead.

The pressure paid off and a second goal finally arrived for Al-Sadd in the 28th minute, with Baghdad Bounedjah sending in a cross that was headed in by Boualem.

Both teams had chances to score thereafter, with Bounedjah’s header going over the crossbar while Saleh Al-Amri’s shot flying just wide of Saad Al-Dosari’s goal.

The first half went on to end with Al-Sadd carrying a 2-0 lead but Al-Ahli struck back right after the restart. In the 47th minute, Muhannad Asiri rose highest to head in Amir Kurdi’s cross to reduce the deficit for Al-Ahli.

Al-Sadd were forced into action after that goal and went looking for a third goal but Ferreira’s side was kept out by the Al-Ahli defence and multiple offside calls that thwarted Bounedjah.

In the final five minutes of the match, Al-Sadd showed greater urgency to try and score a goal that could give them a better position in the second leg. However, Bounedjah, Xavi and Afif all saw their efforts miss the target, as Al-Sadd ended up with a narrow 2-1 win.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Ahli (AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg)

Venue:

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Morteza Pouraliganji, Ahmed Suhail, Abdelkarim Hassan, Hamid Ismail (Musab Kheder), Khoukhi Boualem, Salem Al-Hajri (Yasir Abubakar), Xavi, Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Baghdad Bounedjah

Al-Ahli: Mohammed Al-Owais, Waleed Bakshwin, Mark Milligan, Hussain Al-Moqahwi (Momen Zakaria), Muhannad Asiri (Hamdan Al-Shamrani), Claudemir, Ali Awaji (Saleh Al-Amri), Motaz Hawsawi, Mansour Al-Harbi, Abdulfatah Asiri

Result:

Al-Sadd won 2-1

Goals:

Khoukhi Boualem 3′, 28′

Muhannad Asiri 47′

Bookings:

Waleed Bakshwin 63′

Referees:

Christopher James (Main referee)

David Walsh (Linesman)

Anton Schtenin (Linesman)

Hussain Abuyahya (Fourth official)