Doha: Al Sadd went seven points clear at the top of QNB Stars league standings with a dominant 4-1 win over Al Gharafa at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Boualem Khokhi (5), Santi Cazorla (63), Akram Afif (84) and Baghdad Bongah (90) were on target for the Xavi-Hernandez-coached Wolves as the former champions warmed up for the upcoming Amir Cup blockbuster in style.
Koo Ja-Cheol scored the only goal for Al Gharafa in 77th minute.
The result lifted Al Sadd’s points tally to 25 while second-placed Al Gharafa’s balance remained at 18.
Spaniard Xavi was elated after the big win and expressed his happiness on his team’s performances.
“The victory was against one of the best teams in the League," Xavi said.
"Al Gharafa is an organised, effective and strong team that is very fit, and winning it by four gives us great confidence (ahead of the Amir Cup final),”Xavi said after the match.
The Amir Cup final will take place on December 18 - Qatar National Day, at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 venue at Al Rayyan which will be declared open just before the match.
In just the second minute of the fast-paced clash yesterday, Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydous, darting down the right flank, delivered a near-perfect cross for Baghdad Bounedjah, but Al Gharafa defender Tamim Al Muhaza kept his nose ahead of the feared Algerian striker to head the ball for a corner.
In the fourth minute, Al Gharafa’s Homam Elamin brought down Al Haydous close to his own box with a reckless tackle that saw the Qatar national team skipper writhing in pain.
Khoukhi did not disappoint with the resultant free-kick, sending the ball into the net with a slick shot that sailed into the top right of net with Al Gharafa keeper Salah Hassan unable to stop the ball.
Al Sadd doubled their lead when Muftah brought down Guilherme Torres resulting in a long-range free-kick. Cazorla curled in a free-kick that sailed above the Al Gharafa wall and dipped on the goalkeeper before bouncing. In the 74th minute, Hanni, found Koo with a neat cross and slipped in the ball from touching distance of the goalline. Koo charged into the Al Sadd box and fired home with a powerful shot.
Ten minutes later, Afif produced a deft left-footed flick from an acute angle into the top of the net for his fifth goal of the season.
Bounedjah added Al Sadd’s fourth goal in the last minute from close range.
In other matches yesterday, holders Al Duhail defeated Al Arabi 2-0 thanks to a brilliant double by Edmilson Junior while Al Sailiya lost to Qatar SC 1-3.
Third placed Al Ahli has the opportunity to advance to second spot in the rankings if they can overcome Al Kharaitiyat when the two teams meet at Al Ahli Stadium today.
Today’s first match will be played between Al khor and Al Wakrah while Al Rayyan and Umm Salal will be in contest in the final match of Round 9.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com