Bounedjah leads Al-Sadd to 3-1 win over Persepolis

Another brace from Baghdad Bounedjah helped Al-Sadd register their second successive victory in the 2018 AFC Champions League, after defeating Iran’s Persepolis 3-1 in the Group C – Matchday Two fixture played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.

The Wolves thus climb to the top of the Group C table with 6 points and a 100% record after two games.

After a spirited start to the game, Al-Sadd had numerous chances to make a breakthrough. Bounedjah had a great opportunity to score in the 10th minute but his shot was saved by the keeper.

Pedro also missed a chance to get a deserved goal in the 26th minute after his header off Xavi’s cross went over the crossbar.

A goal finally arrived in the 36th minute, when Bounedjah managed to break the deadlock for Al-Sadd. After his deflected free-kick fell at the feet of Akram Afif, the Algerian rushed into the box to head in Afif’s cross and made it 1-0 to the hosts.

In the second half, Al-Sadd picked up from where they had left off and Bounedjah returned to double the lead in the 51st minute. This time, it was Xavi who set up the striker with a magical pass and Bounedjah did well to find the target with a curling finish.

Boualem Khoukhi came on to replace Salem Al-Hajri in the 62nd minute and he made his presence known just four minutes later. The Qatari international got into the box at the right time to finish off Ali Asad’s pass and give Al-Sadd a 3-0 lead.

Jesualdo Ferreira’s men almost pulled off a clean sheet as well but Persepolis struck in the fourth minute of additional time to deny them. It would only prove to be a consolation goal as Al-Sadd secured their second straight win.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Persepolis (AFC Champions League Matchday Two)

Venue:

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al-Sadd Sports Club

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Morteza Pouraliganji, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Hamid Ismail, Salem Al-Hajri (Khoukhi Boualem), Yasir Abubakar, Ali Asad (Jugurtha Hamroun), Xavi, Akram Afif (Ahmed Suhail), Baghdad Bounedjah

Persepolis: Ali Reza Beiranvand, Mohammad Ansari, Shojae Khalilzadeh, Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Hossein Mahini, Vahid Amiri (Ahmed Nurhemati), Farshad Ahmadzadeh (Siamak Nimati), Mohsen Rabiekhah, Kamal Kamyabinia, Godwin Mensha (Bashar Resan), Ali Alipour

Result:

Al-Sadd won 3-1

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah 36′, 51′

Khoukhi Boualem 66′

Bookings:

Shojae Khalilzadeh 35′

Farshad Ahmedzadeh 60′

Seyed Jalal 75′

Khoukhi Boualem 80′

Referees:

Muhammad Taqi (Main referee)

Lee Tzu Liang (Linesman)

Ronnie Koh (Linesman)

Letchman Krishnan (Fourth official)