Al-Sadd regain top spot after 3-1 win over Al-Sailiya

Al-Sadd climbed to the top of the Qatar Stars League table after a 3-1 win over Al-Sailiya in the Round 12 match played on Friday at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium.

The result meant that Al-Sadd topped the table with 30 points. Iranian defender Morteza Pouraliganji gave the Wolves the lead in the 6th minute before captain Xavi Hernandez made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute. Khalfan Ibrahim came off the bench to score the third goal in the 74th minute. Sayyaf Al-Korbi cut the deficit for Al-Sailiya in the 87th minute. Al-Sailiya’s Efolou then went on to miss a penalty in the additional time of the second half.

Morteza scores the first goal

Al-Sadd took an early lead in the game through in the 6th minute through Iranian defender Morteza Pouraliganji. Xavi sent in a corner from the right and Pouraliganji headed in to the left of keeper Gregory Gomis.

Balanced approach from Al-Sadd

Al-Sadd went on to show its dominance, taking a balanced approach between attack and defence. The team played with a 4-2-3-1 system, with a back four of Morteza, Pedro, Ibrahim and Abdelkarim. Kasola and Salem formed the midfield pivot while Xavi, Ali Asad and Al-Haydos played as the attacking trio. Baghdad Bounedjah was the lone striker. In the 28th minute, Abdelkarim sent a powerful shot at goal from outside the box which went wide of the left post.

Xavi adds the second goal for the Wolves

In the 33rd minute, Baghdad Bounedjah played a through pass to Xavi, who shot first time to score the second goal for Al-Sadd. Pedro almost added another goal in the 36th minute but his shot went above the crossbar. The Wolves continued to dominate the match until the referee blew the whistle for halftime, with the score showing a 2-0 lead for Al-Sadd.

Al-Sailiya pressure after halftime

Al-Sailiya began the second half looking to cut the deficit and went on the attack. In the 52nd minute, Mohammed Mudathir tried a shot from outside the box which went wide of the Al-Sadd goal. The Al-Sadd players countered the pressure by transitioning quickly from the back and spreading out in attack.

Hamed & Khalfan come on, referee rules out Bounedjah’s goal

Midway through the second half, Al-Sadd made two substitutions: Hamed Ismail replaced Pedro while Khalfan Ibrahim replaced Ali Asad. Hamed played as the right back while Khalfan played on the left wing. Baghdad Bounedjah then had the ball in the net after picking up a pass from Ali Asad but the goal was incorrectly ruled out by the referee.

Khalfan scores the third; Al-Korbi cuts the deficit

Substitute Khalfan Ibrahim scored the third goal for Al-Sadd in the 73rd minute, finishing past Gomis after exchanging passes with Bounedjah. Hassan Al-Haydos then went off in the 80th minute, to be replaced by Musab Kheder. Sayyaf Al-Korbi reduced the deficit for Al-Sailiya by scoring their first goal in the 87th minute. The referee signalled for three minutes of additional time before whistling for full time, giving Al-Sadd a 3-1 victory.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Sailiya (QSL Round 12)

Venue:

Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Qatar SC

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Pedro (Hamed Ismail), Ibrahim Majid, Morteza Pouraliganji, Abdelkarim Hassan, Xavi, Mohammed Kasola, Ali Asad (Khalfan), Hassan Al-Haydos (Musab Kheder), Baghdad Bounedjah

Al-Sailiya: Gregory Gomis, Mohammed Mudathir, Mustafa Mohammed, Majdi Abdullah, Fouzi Ayesh, Mirghani El-Zain, Sayyaf Al-Korbi, Ali Alob (Paul Efolou), Raoul Loe, Hamad Al-Abidi, Dragos Grigore

Result:

Al-Sadd won 3-1

Goals:

Morteza Pouraliganji 6′
Xavi Hernandez 33′
Khalfan Ibrahim 74′
Sayyaf Al-Korbi 87′

Bookings:

Salem Al-Hajri 63′
Saad Al-Dosari 70′
Mustafa Mohammed 85′
Abdelkarim Hassan 90′

Referees

Sultan Al-Sufyani (Main referee)
Yousuf Al-Shammari (Linesman)
Zahi Al-Shammari (Linesman)
Abdulaziz Al-Shammari (Fourth official)
Khamis Al-Kuwari (Additional)
Muatasim Ahmed (Additional)