QNB Stars League: Al-Sadd reclaim top spot after 3-1 win over Al-Sailiya

Al-Sadd climbed to the top of the QNB Stars League table after a 3-1 win over Al-Sailiya in the postponed Round 3 game, which was played on Tuesday at Al-Janoub Stadium.

Baghdad Bounedjah gave Al-Sadd the lead from the penalty spot (8′) early on. The other goals followed in the second half, with Akram Afif dispatching another penalty (80′) and Ali Asad scoring the third (82′). Karim Ansarifard scored Al-Sailiya’s consolation goal in the 85th minute.

Al-Sadd had a great start to the game, and Bounedjah put the team in the lead with the first goal, through an eighth minute penalty. The penalty was awarded by the referee in consultation with VAR, after Khoukhi Boualem was deemed to have been fouled by Magdi Siddiq inside the box.

The Wolves maintained their control of the game as the first half progressed, spreading well across midfield, while Al-Sailiya relied on defensive solidity and playing on the counter. One such counter attack in the 25th minute saw an incursion by Al-Sailiya’s Iranian striker Ansarifard, who got past the Al-Sadd defense and fired a powerful shot; however, the ball crashed off the left post of goalkeeper Saad Al-Dosari.

Calm dominated the game in the last ten minutes of the first half, amid attempts by the two teams which did not pose any real danger. The referee signalled for three minutes of additional time, before bringing the first half to an end with Al-Sadd leading 1-0.

Al-Sadd coach Xavi made his first change in the 60th minute, with Hashim Ali being replaced by Hassan Al-Haydos, who played on the right wing, while Khoukhi Boualem moved to play next to Tarek Salman in the center of the defense. Jung Woo-young moved to midfield to partner captain Gabi.

In the 66th minute, Hamid Ismail’s cross from the right was met by Bounedjah, but the header was saved by Al-Sailiya goalkeeper Khalifa Abubakar.

Abubakar was kept busy by Al-Sadd, and he went on to make another crucial save off Bounedjah in the 75th minute, after a good passing move with Hamid.

Five minutes later, Al-Sadd succeeded in finally translating their dominance into goals. Akram Afif won and converted a penalty in the 80th minute, after a foul on him by Magdi Siddiqi. Then, in the 82nd minute, substitute Ali Asad finished off a squared pass from Bounedjah to put the Wolves 3-0 up.

Ansarifard then reduced the deficit for Al-Sailiya in the 85th minute, before adding another goal just moments later but the referee disallowed the latter for offside.

The game thus went on to end in a 3-1 win for Al-Sadd, which sees the side return to the top of the QNB Stars League with 12 points, after four wins out of four games.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Sailiya (QNB Stars League Round 3)

VENUE:

Al-Janoub Stadium

LINEUPS:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Hamid Ismail, Boualem Khoukhi, Yasser Abubakar, Gabi, Nam Tae-hee (Ali Asad), Jung Woo-young, Tarek Salman, Hashim Ali (Hassan Al-Haydos), Baghdad Bounedjah (Ahmed Sayyar), Akram Afif

Al-Sailiya: Khalifa Ababacar, Kara Mbodji, George Kwasi, Ahmed Al Minhali, Magdi Siddiq (Meshaal Al Shammari), Nadir Belhadj, Mbark Boussoufa Bilal Saidani, Adel Bader Al Ahmad, Karim Ansarifard, Mahir Yousef (Mohammed Muddather)

RESULT:

Al-Sadd won 3-1

GOALS:

Baghdad Bounedjah 8′ (PEN)
Akram Afif 80′ (PEN)
Ali Asad 82′
Karim Ansarifard 85′

BOOKINGS:

Ahmed Al-Minhali 12′
Mahir Yousef 36′
Boualem Khoukhi 89′

REFEREES:

Match referee: Khamees Al-Marri
Linesman 1: Ramzan Al-Nuaimi
Linesman 2: Faisal Al-Shammari
Fourth official: Nayef Al-Qaderi