Al-Sadd defeat Al-Duhail and clinch Sheikh Jassim Cup

Al-Sadd clinched the 2017-18 Sheikh Jassim Cup with a 4-2 win over Al-Duhail in the final that was played at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium on Saturday. This is the 68th title in the club’s history.

Baghdad Bounedjah opened the scoring for Al-Sadd in the 5th minute before scoring his second of the night in the 20th minute. Nam Tae Hee then reduced the deficit for Al-Duhail in the 41st minute. Bounedjah went on to complete his hattrick in the 67th minute. Al-Sadd then made it 4-1 in the 80th minute with a penalty that was converted by Jugurtha Hamroun. Almoez Ali went on to net a consolation goal in injury time.

Bounedjah gives Al-Sadd an early lead

Al-Sadd took the lead early on with a 5th minute strike from Baghdad Bounedjah, who finished off a through ball from Jugurtha Hamroun. Hamroun could have made it 2-0 in the 13th minute but his strike was kept out by Al-Duhail keeper Khalifa Abubakar for a corner.

Another goal for Bounedjah

The second goal was in the offing and it didn’t take too long for Al-Sadd to double their lead. This time it was Xavi who slid a through ball to Bounedjah who scored with aplomb, in a similar manner to his first goal. Al-Duhail then went on to dominate proceedings after that, looking to get back into the match. Al-Sadd took a balanced approach, alternating between offence and defence. In the 36th minute, Bounedjah had an opportunity to score but the Algerian’s effort was palmed away by Abubakar.

Nam Tae Hee reduces the deficit for Al-Duhail

In the 41st minute, Al-Duhail’s Korean playmaker Nam Tae Hee scored to make it 2-1 after a mistake from Khoukhi Boualem. Al-Duhail kept trying to score anothe goal but Al-Sadd managed to maintain the scoreline up until the halftime whistle.

Interesting start to second half, Bounedjah completes hattrick

Both sides started the second half in an exciting fashion, showing attacking intent from the beginning. In the 67th minute, Bounedjah went on to complete his hattrick with another goal and another assist from Xavi to make the score 3-1.

Hamroun scores the fourth

In the 80th minute, Hamroun converted a penalty to score Al-Sadd’s fourth. The spot kick was awarded after a foul on Bounedjah, who was substituted by Saoud Al-Nasr after picking up a knock. Al-Sadd then held on until the final few minutes when Almoez Ali scored for Al-Duhail. It would only prove to be a consolation goal and Al-Sadd went on to confirm victory and the Sheikh Jassim Cup with a 4-2 victory.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Duhail (Sheikh Jassim Cup)

Venue: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Ahmed Bader Sayyar (Hatem Kamal), Jugurtha Hamroun, Xavi, Musab Kheder, Hassan Al-Haydos, Baghdad Bounedjah (Saoud Ibrahim), Fahad Shanin (Meshaal Al-Shammari), Boualem Khoukhi, Salem Al-Hajri, Ghassan Waheed

Al-Duhail: Khalifa Abubakar, Mohammed Musa, Khaled Muftah (Ali Afif), Lucas Mendes, Abdulrahman Abkar, Ismaeel Mohammed (Almoez Ali), Youssef El Arabi, Nam Tae Hee, Karim Boudiaf, Bassam Al-Rawi (Luiz Mairton), Youssef Msakni

Result:

Al-Sadd won 4-2

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah 5′, 20′, 67′

Nam Tae Hee 41′

Jugurtha Hamroun 80′

Almoez Ali 90+6′

Bookings:

Baghdad Bounedjah 45′

Luiz Mairton 71′

Hatem Kamal 89′