Al-Sadd complete thrilling comeback to defeat Al-Wasl 2-1 in AFC Champions League opener

Two late goals from Baghdad Bounedjah helped Al-Sadd clinch a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Al-Wasl in their opening 2018 AFC Champions League clash at the Zabeel Stadium on Monday evening.

After falling behind to Fabio Lima’s 26th minute opener, Bounedjah came off the bench to score twice in the last 11 minutes and give the Wolves their first three points of the competition.

The opening minutes of the first half was a spirited affair as both teams made offensive forays. However, neither team were able to make the breakthrough.

It would take until the 25th minute for the first real chance of the game, which fell to Al-Sadd. After Yasir Abubakar’s cross from the left, Hassan Al-Haydos’s volley went just wide of Al-Wasl’s right post.

A minute later, Al-Wasl took the lead. Brazilian striker Fabio Lima won the ball on the right wing and dribbled into the box before sending a powerful curling shot that went in at the far post.

Al-Sadd tried hard to get back into the game but to no avail. In the 35th minute, Xavi tried to set up Ali Asad but his through ball was cleared away by the Al-Wasl defence. The first half thus ended with Al-Wasl carrying a 1-0 lead.

At halftime, Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira decided on a change of personnel and brought on Akram Afif in place of Ali Asad, to add impetus to his side’s attack.

That change alone did not seem to be enough and in the 58th minute, Ferreira sent on Bounedjah in place of his Salem Al-Hajri and it would prove to be an inspired substitution.

12 minutes after coming on, Bounedjah attempted an acrobatic overhead kick following a cross from Al-Haydos but it was kept out by a one-handed save from Al-Wasl keeper Sultan Al Mantheri.

The Algerian, however, would not be denied in the 79th minute when he finally gifted Al-Sadd the equalizer. After a pass from Xavi, he finished home with a shot on the turn to make the score 1-1.

In the final minute of the match, Bounedjah made his impact once again. Once the Al Wasl defence failed to clear Afif’s cross from the left, Bounedjah made them pay with a clincial half-volley that nestled in the far corner, giving Al-Sadd a precious 2-1 win.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Wasl (2018 AFC Champions League Group C – MD 1)

Venue:

Zabeel Stadium, Al-Wasl SC – Dubai

Lineups:

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

Al-Wasl: Sultan Al-Mantheri, Abdullah Saleh, Waheed Ismail, Salem Jumuah, Ali Al-Baloushi, Caceres, Abdullah Al-Naqbi (Abdullah Al-Baloushi), Caio, Cesar, Hazza Salem, Fabio Lima

Result:

Al-Sadd won 2-1

Goals:

Fabio Lima 26′

Baghdad Bounedjah 79′, 90′

Bookings:

Hassan Al-Haydos 19′

Abdelkarim Hassan 33′

Pedro Miguel 34′

Ali Salmeen 34′

Fabio Lima 42′

Sultan Al-Mantheri 70′

Referees:

Ko Hyung Jin (Main referee)

Bang Gi Yeol (Linesman)

Park Sang Jun (Linesman)

Yaqoub Saeed (Fourth official)