Al-Sadd returns to winning ways with derby triumph

Al-Sadd managed to return to winning ways in the Qatar Stars League with a 3-2 win over Al-Arabi in the Round 8 match that was played at the Grand Hamad Stadium on Saturday.

The derby win lifted Al-Sadd back to the second place in the league standings with a tally of 18 points after 8 games.

Al-Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah who opened the scoring by dispatching a penalty in the 3rd minute before Al-Arabi equalized with a header from Luis Jimenez in the 26th minute. In the 84th minute, Al-Sadd regained the lead with a goal from Xavi before adding another just a minute later through Bounedjah. Jimenez then returned to score his second goal but that would be the end of the scoring and Al-Sadd emerged as winners.

Bounedjah gives Al-Sadd an early lead

The match began in an exciting fashion and Al-Sadd took an early lead, scoring the first goal in the 3rd minute itself. Bounedjah converted a penalty after Jugurtha Hamroun was brought down in the box by Al-Arabi’s Moustapha Sall.

Al-Sadd dominate and keep attacking

Al-Sadd went on to dominate the match, continuing with a spate of attacks from the wings and also from deep. The team played with a 3-4-2-1 system that had a back three of Morteza, Pedro and Ibrahim while the midfield quartet was composed of Hussam Kamal, Abdelkarim, Kasola and Xavi. In attack, the duo of Ali Asad and Hamroun played behind striker Bounedjah.

In the 19th minute, Bounedjah had a chance to add a second goal after picking up a through ball from Xavi but his shot was kept out by Arabi keeper Rajab Hamza.

Jimenez equalizes for Al-Arabi

In the 26th minute, Al-Arabi levlled the scores when Jimenez headed in a cross from Mohammed Shabaan. Al-Arabi then enjoyed a lively spell leading unto halftime as the Al-Sadd players were kept on the back foot. However, the score remained 1-1 when the referee blew his whistle to signal halftime.

Al-Haydos replaces Hussam Kamal

With the beginning of the second half, Jesualdo Ferreira made his first substitution, sending on Hassan Al-Haydos in place of Hussam Kamal. This meant that Pedro moved on to the right-back position while Al-Haydos took up his position in the attack. In the 50th minute, Al-Sadd had a penalty call when Kasola’s shot was blocked by the hand of Al-Arabi’s Khoukhi Boualem but the referee waved play on.

Ferreira makes more changes, brings on Khalfan & Salem

The boss continued to make changes for Al-Sadd and in the 66th minute, he replaced Ali Asad with Khalfan Ibrahim, who was making his first appearance since missing the Muaither game in Round 4. Later, Mohammed Kasola was taken off and replaced by Salem Al-Hajri in the 77th minute.

Al-Sadd attempts as Al-Arabi counters

Al-Sadd kept up the pressure on the Al-Arabi goal in the last quarter of the second half but were not able to pose any real danger. On the other hand, Al-Arabi depended on a counter attacking strategy using the speed of substitute Imoh Ezekiel, who got past the Al-Sadd defence on multiple occasions.

Xavi & Bounedjah score for Al-Sadd

In the 84th minute, Al-Sadd finally got their breakthrough when Xavi Hernandez converted Hamroun’s pass with a well-placed strike to make the score 2-1. Just a minute after that, Bounedjah made it 3-1 with a chipped finish after being put through by Xavi. Al-Arabi then managed to get another goal with Jimenez scoring once again to reduce the deficit but Al-Sadd held on to register a 3-2 win.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Arabi

Qatar Stars League Round 8

Venue:

Grand Hamad Stadium, Al-Arabi Club

Lineups:

Al-Sadd – Saad Al-Dosari, Pedro, Morteza Pouraliganji, Ibrahim Majid, Hussam Kamal (Hassan Al-Haydos), Mohammed Kasola, Ali Asad (Khalfan Ibrahim), Xavi, Jugurtha Hamroun, Baghdad Bounedjah, Abdelkarim Hassan

Al-Arabi -Rajab Hamza, Rami Fayez, Omar Al-Emadi, Boualem Khoukhi, Moustapha Sall, Talal Al-Baloushi (Ahmed Fathi), Mohammed Jumua, Mohammed Shabaan, Paulo Sergio (Imoh Ezekiel), Luis Jimenez, Wagner Renan (Ahmed Saleh)

Result:

Al-Sadd won 3-2

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah [3′ (P), 85′] & Xavi 84′ for Al-Sadd

Luis Jimenez [26′, 87′] for Al-Arabi

Bookings:

Wagner Renan 34′

Abdelkarim 43′

Mohammed Jumua 64′

Xavi 87′

Referees:

Khamis Al-Kuwari (Main referee)

Taleb Salem (Linesman)

Ramzan Al-Nuaimi (Linesman)

Mohammed Dharman (Fourth official)

Khamis Al-Marri (Additional referee)

Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Additional referee)