QNB Stars League: Bounedjah heads Al-Sadd to a dramatic win over Qatar SC

13 August 2020

Al-Sadd registered a fourth successive win in the QNB Stars League, defeating Qatar SC 1-0 in their Round 21 clash on Thursday evening at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Baghdad Bounedjah scored the winner in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time, to give Al-Sadd the three points. The result saw the Wolves increase their tally to 44 points, and they remain in third place in the league table.

Al-Sadd started the game strongly and fashioned opportunities early on. Hassan Al-Haydos was presented with a great low cross in from Hashim Ali on the right in the 9th minute, but his shot went above the crossbar. Bounedjah then tried a powerful shot at goal, which was kept out by Qatar keeper Mutasem Majed.

As the first half progressed, Al-Sadd kept up the pressure, keeping possession and moving the ball around while trying to make inroads. Bounedjah tried to find Hashim Ali with a dangerous cross in the 28th minute, but the latter was unable to reach it.

Qatar SC soaked up the pressure and prevented Al-Sadd from creating further clear chances until halftime, but once the second half kicked off, Xavi’s men were determined to get the breakthrough goal.

Only the woodwork denied Al-Sadd, with both Nam Tae-hee and Rodrigo Tabata seeing their shots from outside the box rebound off the post.

Yusuf Abdurisag then came on for his first start after his return to the club, replacing Abdelkarim Hassan in the 62nd minute.

In the 68th minute, Bounedjah got to the end of a squared ball from Al-Haydos but his shot came off the crossbar, and although Nam tapped in from close range, the effort was ruled out for offside.

It was as if the Wolves had smelt a goal coming, and they pushed forwards in search of it. With the clock running out, the fourth official signalled for 7 minutes of additional time, and it was in the very last of those that Al-Sadd finally broke the deadlock. Tabata sent in a precise delivery from a corner, and Bounedjah rose to head the ball in for his 13th goal of the season.

MATCH DETAILS:

Al-Sadd x Qatar SC (QNB Stars League Round 21)

Venue:

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Khoukhi Boualem, Tarek Salman, Pedro Miguel, Jung Woo-young, Hassan Al-Haydos, Rodrigo Tabata, Baghdad Bounedjah, Abdelkarim Hassan (Yusuf Abdurisag), Nam Tae-hee, Hashim Ali (Ahmed Sayyar)

Qatar SC: Mutasem Majed, Mohammed Salem, Omar Al Emadi (Ahmed Moein), Mehdi Berrahma, Sardor Rashidov (Abdulaziz Adel), Nasir Peer, Khaled Ahmed, Hamad Mansour, Eissa Ahmed, Alejandro Jimenez, Kayke

Result:

Al-Sadd won 1-0

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah 90+7’

Bookings:

Nasir Peer 71’
Kayke 85’
Hamad Mansour 89’
Pedro 90’
Baghdad Bounedjah 90+7’

Referees:

Salman Falahi (Main referee)
Khaled Ayed (Assistant 1)
Majed Al-Shammari (Assistant 2)
Yousuf Yaqoob (Fourth official)