Al-Sadd clinch Qatar Clasico with 2-0 victory over Al-Rayyan

Goals from Algerian duo Jugurtha Hamroun and Baghdad Bounedjah helped Al-Sadd register a 2-0 win over Al-Rayyan in the QNB Stars League Round 16 match played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday.

The result meant that Al-Sadd maintained their position in second place in the league table with 40 points, opening up a five point gap over third-placed Al-Rayyan while remaining two points adrift of leaders Al-Duhail.

While both teams had chances to break the deadlock throughout the first half, it took until the 44th minute for a goal to arrive.

Xavi’s through ball was picked up by Hamroun who chipped Al-Rayyan keeper Omar Barry to send Al-Sadd into halftime with a 1-0 lead.

Al-Sadd began the second half strongly and continued to dominate for the rest of the period.

Recent arrival Akram Afif made his debut for Al-Sadd in the 68th minute after replacing Ali Asad, and went on to add further impetus to the attack.

The Wolves then made a second substitution in the 74th minute, bringing on Bounedjah who returned to the pitch for the first time after suffering an injury in November.

Bounedjah went on to mark his return with a goal just five minutes after his introduction. The Algerian striker was the first to react after Morteza Pouraliganji’s header crashed off the post, and poked the ball in from close range to make it 2-0.

Al-Sadd held on in the final few minutes with resolute defending in the face of an Al-Rayyan onslaught, managing to keep the clean sheet and clinch a morale-boosting victory ahead of next week’s AFC Champions League opener.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Rayyan (QNB Stars League Round 16)

Venue:

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Pedro Miguel, Morteza Pouraliganji, Hamid Ismail, Abdelkarim Hassan, Salem Al-Hajri, Ali Asad (Akram Afif), Xavi, Jugurtha Hamroun (Baghdad Bounedjah), Hassan Al-Haydos (Hassan Ahmed), Yassir Abubakar

Al-Rayyan: Omar Barry, Mohammed Alaa, Ahmed Yasser, Hussam Kamal (Mouhcine Motouali), Abdelrazaq Hamedallah, Rodrigo Tabata, Gonzalo Viera, Ali Sanad, Koh Myong-jin, Daniel Gomou (Sebastian Soria), Ahmed Al-Sayed

Results:

Al-Sadd won 2-0

Goals:

Jugurtha Hamroun 44′

Baghdad Bounedjah 79′

Bookings:

Hamid Ismail 20′

Gonzalo Viera 84′

Referees:

Salman Falahi (Main referee)

Saoud Ahmed (Linesman)

Ramzan Al-Nuaimi (Linesman)

Yousuf Al-Shammari (Fourth official)

Khamees Al-Kuwari (Additional)

Abdullah Al-Athba (Additional)