Amir Cup: Al-Sadd advance to the final after 2-0 win over Al-Rayyan

Al-Sadd reached the final of the 2019 Amir Cup after beating Al-Rayyan 2-0 in the semifinal played on Saturday at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. Ali Asad opened the scoring in the 12th minute, before Baghdad Bounedjah netted late on to double Al-Sadd’s advantage in the 84th minute.

The result means that Al-Sadd become the first team to reach the showpiece match, which will be held at the brand new Al-Wakrah Stadium on May 16. They will face the winner of the second semifinal, which will be played between Al-Duhail and Al-Sailiyah on Sunday.

The match began with Al-Sadd on the front foot, and Akram Afif had an early chance in the third minute but his close-range shot was saved by Al-Rayyan keeper Fahad Younis.

In the 12th minute, Al-Sadd got their breakthrough. Afif got past a defender on the left and sent in a teasing low pass which was duly finished off by Asad to make it 1-0.

Al-Sadd continued to have chances, with Salem Al-Hajri sending a powerful shot at goal in the 30th minute but Fahad was on hand to deny him.

Bounedjah then won a penalty in the 37th minute after being brought down by Dami Traore. However, Fahad saved the Algerian’s spot kick with his feet. The first half thus went on to end with the lone goal giving Al-Sadd the slender lead.

In the second half, Al-Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira brought on Hassan Al-Haydos and Abdelkarim Hassan in place of Ali Asad and Hamed Ismail. Al-Haydos went on to play alongside Xavi and Afif in an attacking three. Abdelkarim took his position as the left-back, while Tareq Salman moved to the centre of the defence next to Boulem Khoukhi.

As the second half progressed, Al-Sadd had further oppotunities to score, with Afif’s effort in the 68th minute cleared off the line. Finally, the Wolves got a second goal in the 84th minute, when Bounedjah came up with brilliant dribbling to get past two defenders before finishing past Fahad to secure the 2-0 win.

MATCH DETAILS:

Al-Sadd x Al-Rayyan (Amir Cup 2019 Semifinal)

Venue:

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Pedro Miguel, Hamed Ismail (Abdelkarim Hassan), Tareq Salman, Khoukhi Boualem, Gabi, Salem Al-Hajri (Jung Woo-young), Xavi, Ali Asad (Hassan Al-Haydos), Baghdad Bounedjah, Akram Afif

Al-Rayyan: Fahad Younis, Gelmin Rivas, Dami Traore, Luca Borges, Rodrigo Tabata, Mohammed Bader Sayyar, Gonzalo Viera, Mohammed Juma, Koh Myong-jin, Daniel Gomou (Sebastian Soria), Ahmed Al-Sayed

Result:

Al-Sadd won 2-0

Goals:

Ali Asad 12′

Baghdad Bounedjah 84′

Bookings:

Ahmed Al-Sayed 7′

Baghdad Bounedjah 9′

Gonzalo Viera 9′

Rodrigo Tabata 12′

Hamed Ismail 29′

Luca Borges 62′

Mohammed Juma 65′

Pedro Miguel 69′

Akram Afif 71′

Salem Al-Hajri 74′

Koh Myong-jin 83′