Al-Sadd beat Al-Duhail to lift Sheikh Jassim Cup
Al-Sadd lifted the first trophy of the 2019-20 season after winning the Sheikh Jassim Cup with a 1-0 triumph over Al-Duhail, at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday evening.
Ali Asad’s 13th minute strike was enough to hand victory to Al-Sadd in what is the Super Cup of Qatari football. In addition to being Al-Sadd’s 70th title overall in all competitions, the Sheikh Jassim Cup win also marks the first title of Xavi Hernandez’s managerial career.
Al-Sadd had a good start to the game, pushing forward for an early breakthrough and were duly rewarded in the 13th minute. Akram Afif dribbled into the box, past multiple defenders before setting up Asad to slot in from close range and make it 1-0.
The Wolves maintained control over the game after the goal, and had further opportunities to double their advantage. Hashim Ali came close in the 30th minute, but his shot off Afif’s squared pass went over the bar.
Hassan Al-Haydos then tried to chip the ball over Lecomte Amine but the Al-Duhail keeper managed to tip it out for a corner. Al-Sadd kept searching for another goal, and Ali Asad almost got it just before halftime. Ali had dribbled past two defenders before sending a shot at Amine, only to see it blocked.
In the second half, Al-Duhail looked to get back into the game with renewed vigour but Al-Sadd managed to hold the fort. Xavi sent on Nam Tae-hee to replace the youngster Hashim Ali in the 61st minute for his first substitution of the game.
Al-Sadd then gained a numerical advantage in the 68th minute, when Al-Duhail’s Luiz Mairton was sent off for a second bookable offence. Xavi then made his second substitution, with Abdulaziz Al-Ansari coming on for Salem Al-Hajri in the 74th minute.
Nam had a great opportunity to score in the 86th minute, after going one-on-one with the keeper – however, he lost the ball, which fell at the feet of Al-Ansari. The forward sent a shot at goal but once again, the ball missed the target and Al-Sadd failed to increase their lead.
Despite the missed opportunities, the lone goal would be enough as Al-Sadd held on to register a win and lift the trophy. Al-Duhail ended the game with nine men, after Assim Madibo was sent off in stoppage time.
MATCH DETAILS:
Al-Sadd x Al-Duhail (Sheikh Jassim Cup)
Venue:
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Saad Al Dosari, Abdelkarim Hassan, Khoukhi Boualem, Jung Woo-young, Pedro, Salem Al-Hajri (Abdulaziz Al-Ansari), Gabi, Hashim Ali (Nam Tae-hee), Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Ali Asad
Al-Duhail: Claude Amine, Ismaeel Mohammed, Bassam Al-Rawi, Luiz Mairton, Karim Boudiaf, Assim Madibo, Mohanad Ali, Edmilson, Ali Jasemi (Mohammed Emad), Ali Afif, Youssef Msakni
Result:
Al-Sadd won 1-0
Goals:
13′ Ali Asad
Bookings:
27’, 68’ Luiz Mairton (Red card)
73’, 93’ Assim Madibo (Red card)
Referees:
Saoud Al-Athba (Main referee)
Ramzan Al-Nuaimi (Linesman)
Faisal Al-Shammari (Linesman)
Abdulhadi Al-Ruwaili (Fourth official)