Al-Sadd return to winning form with 3-2 victory over Al-Khor

Al-Sadd got back to winning ways in the QNB Stars League with a 3-2 victory over Al-Khor in the Round 10 game played at the Khalifa International Stadium on Friday.

The result means Al-Sadd increase their points tally to 24 and remain in third place, a point behind second-placed Al-Rayyan.

A Xavi double gave Al-Sadd a seemingly strong advantage but Al-Khor came back into the game through goals from Soroush Rafiei and Nayef Al-Buraiki. However, Al-Sadd had the last laugh with a 88th minute penalty that was converted by Jugurtha Hamroun.

The match began in a spirited manner, with both teams looking to make an early impact. In the 7th minute, Al-Khor’s Hamad Mansour had a shot from outside the box go wide of Al-Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham. Al-Sadd’s reply came through Hamroun’s 9th minute shot, but it failed to trouble the Al-Khor keeper.

The Wolves took the lead in the 15th minute through a strike from Xavi. Hamroun got into the box and squared the ball to the captain, who made no mistake to score the first goal of the game.

Al-Khor’s Madison had an opportunity to equalize in the 28th minute, with a tricky shot from the left that deflected off the keeper Barsham and then the crossbar before going out.

In the 33rd minute, Hassan Al-Haydos wasted a chance to score Al-Sadd’s second goal. Xavi played a through ball to Al-Haydos, but his lobbed shot over the keeper went wide of the goal.

Both teams had chances to score leading upto halftime, but neither succeeded in their efforts. The referee went on to signal a minute of additional time before whistling for halftime.

In the second half, Al-Sadd managed to double their lead and it was Xavi once again who got the goal in the 56th minute. He stepped up and drilled in a free-kick from the edge of the box to make it 2-0.

The two-goal advantage did not last long as Al-Khor pulled a goal back in the 59th minute. Hilal Al Mohannadi dribbled past two defenders before sending in a cross. Although Fahad Shnain tried to clear the ball, Iranian striker Rafiei was on hand to score from close range.

Al-Sadd were then stunned when Al-Khor managed to equalize in the 70th minute, when Rafiei’s corner was headed in by Nayef Al-Buraiki.

Despite the shock, Al-Sadd managed to clinch the three points in the 88th minute with a penalty that was awarded when Khoukhi Boualem who brought down by Al-Buraiki. Hamroun converted the spot kick and Al-Sadd held on to maintain the 3-2 result and win the game.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Khor (QNB Stars League Round 10)

Venue:

Khalifa International Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Meshaal Barsham, Morteza Pouraliganji, Ahmed Suhail, Fahad Shnain (Hassan Ahmed), Musab Kheder (Pedro), Xavi, Ali Asad (Ahmed Sayyar), Salem Al-Hajri, Jugurtha Hamroun, Hassan Al-Haydos, Khoukhi Boualem

Al-Khor: Claude Amine, Castan Luciano, Mehdi Redha, Soroush Rafiei, Hilal Mohammed (Salem Khalifa), Madison Formagini, Redha Shanbeh, Nayef Al-Buraiki, Hamad Mansour, Mohammed Bader Sayyar, Sayed Hassan (Julian)

Result:

Al-Sadd won 3-2

Goals:

Xavi 15′, 56′

Soroush Rafiei 59′

Nayef Al-Buraiki 70′

Jugurtha Hamroun 88′

Bookings:

Madison 15′

Nayef Al-Buraiki 75′

Referees:

Khamees Al-Kuwari (Main referee)

Taleb Salem (Linesman)

Yousef Al-Shammari (Linesman)

Majed Al-Shammari (Fourth official)

Abdulaziz Moussa (Additional referee)

Abdulhadi Al-Ruwaili (Additional referee)