Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates his goal, yesterday.
Doha: Baghdad Bounedjah seems to have regained his golden 2018 form when he scored record-equalling 13 goals for Al Sadd at the AFC Champions League. After scoring three goals in two games against Al Ain, the feared striker struck a late equaliser against Al Nassr yesterday to secure a 1-1 draw for the Wolves at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
The draw gave a much-wanted point to Al Sadd, taking them to a tally of nine, two behind Group D points leaders Al Nassr, who are yet to taste defeat.
Khalid Al Ghannam had put Al-Nassr ahead in the 22nd minute before Bounedjah equalised for Al Sadd in the 87th minute.
Al Sadd started the game slowly, before creating their first chance in the 13th minute. After being set up by Nam Tae-hee, Hassan Al Haydos tried a shot from the edge of the box but Al Nassr keeper Brad Jones kept it out for a corner. Khoukhi Boualem also had a go moments later, shooting from distance but Jones was once again able to parry the ball.
At the other end, Al Nassr started making inroads and Abdulfattah Adam went clear on goal in the 19th minute, only to see his shot kept out by a great save from Saad Al Dosari, who had raced off his line to meet him.
Three minutes later, however, Saad was beaten. Al Ghannam sent a low strike from a tight angle, that slipped in past the keeper to give Al-Nassr a 1-0 lead.
After that shock goal, Al Sadd pressed forward in search of an equaliser but despite their efforts, the first half would end with Al Nassr carrying the narrow advantage.
At halftime, Xavi Hernandez decided to send on Musaab Khidir in place of Abdelkarim Hassan, while Ahmed Suhail replaced Khoukhi Boualem.
There were few real chances at either end in the second half as well, with the only opportunity of note coming in the 58th minute, when Guilherme sent a powerful shot at goal, only to see it fly over the crossbar.
In the 71st minute, Rodrigo Tabata replaced Al Haydos to freshen up Al Sadd’s attack, while Tarek Salman was also substituted for Yousuf Abdurisag, who played as the right-back, while Pedro moved to the centre of the defence.
Going into the final few minutes of the game, the Al Sadd players pushed forward with urgency and their efforts finally paid off in the 87th minute, when a loose ball fell to Bounedjah at the edge of the box. Bounedjah gifted his side a point when he curled the ball into Jones’ net after Afif had played a ground pass to Nam, the number 10 beautifully played the Algeria international in to finish off.
After the equaliser, Bounedjah had another chance late on, as he managed to nudge the ball of a defender in front of goal, but it rolled away and wide of the post. Moments later, the referee signalled for full time, and the Wolves had to be satisfied with a point.
Al Sadd face Sepahan, while Al Nassr will face the already eliminated Al Ain FC on Thursday.
