DOHA: Rising star Akram Afif produced a well-timed hat-trick as Al Sadd yesterday ended their QNB Stars League (QSL) season with a 9-1 win over Al Kharaitiyat, clinching victory on home soil at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium with a majestic goal-spree under lights.
Goals came thick and fast after Al Sadd started the proceedings in a strong fashion against Al Kharaitiyat who lost 8-2 in the season against eventual champions Al Duhail in November last year. Al Kharaitiyat conceded 62 goals this season and 17 of those came in just two matches.
Baghdad Bounedhaj (20, 43), Ali Asad (33, 72), Afif (36, 45 +1, 53), Hassan Al Haydos (73) and Jugurtha Hamroun (84, penalty) yesterday scored the goals for Al Sadd. Mohammed Qassem (79) reduced the margin of defeat for Al Kharaitiyat late in the second half.
It was the biggest win for Al Sadd this season with just one day to go in the season.
In the 11th minute - after a series of attacks - Al Sadd came to scoring when Asad clipped one above the head of his marker from the edge of the Al Kharaitiyat box. Asad’s curling shot narrowly missed the Al Kharaitiyat crossbar in their first serious shot at goal.
A minute later, national team striker Al Haydos beat a couple of Al Kharaitiyat defenders but the forward’s shot from close range was blocked by goalkeeper Saeed Nasraallah who later went to concede an astonishing 9 goals.
In the 20th minute, feared striker Boiunedjah found the net with a close-range flick - following a short cross from Al Haydos - in the 20th minute as the hosts jumped to a 1-0 lead.
Thirteen minutes later, Asad scored Al Sadd’s second goal and soon under-23 star Afif made it a 3-0 cushion by scoring Al Sadd’s third goal.
Minutes from the end of the first half, Bounedjah produced a curling shot but the ball bounced back after hitting the crossbar. However, seconds later, the Al Sadd star scored his second of the game and Al Sadd’s fourth goal of the match in the 43rd minute. It was the Algerian’s 16th goal of the season.
A minute into injury time saw Afif curl one past the Al Kharaitiyat goalkeeper for his second strike of the match. Eight minutes into the second half, Afif completed his hattrick as Al Sadd retained their dominance.
Asad (72), Al Haydos (73) and Hamroun (84, p) added to their personal tally for the season as Al Sadd completed their huge win. It was Hamroun’s 12th goal of the season.
