Al Sadd's Akram Afif celebrates after scoring a goal against Al Arabi.
Doha: Akram Afif scored a hat-trick to keep Al Sadd juggernaut rolling while Al Duhail’s title aspirations seemed to be over after suffering a stunning 0-4 defeat to Al Wakrah in the QNB Stars League yesterday.
At the Grand Hamad Stadium, reigning champions Al Sadd were given a stern test by Al Arabi in the Qatar Derby, but the leaders prevailed 4-2 thanks to Afif’s heroics.
Al Sadd with 37 points are five points ahead of second-placed Al Duhail, and have also played three games less than their closest rivals.
Santi Cazorla put Al Sadd ahead after the Spaniard converted a penalty in the seventh minute. Al Arabi equalised in the 45th minute through Hamid Ismail’s spot kick but Al Sadd took the lead again two minutes later as Afif curled in from the edge of the box.
Abdulqader Ilyas’ thunderous header in the 52nd minute restored the stalemate. But again it took Al Sadd just two minutes to go ahead as an unmarked Afif slammed the ball into the net from close range. Afif then put the game to bed in the 83rd minute after a cutback from Abdulkarim Hassan.
Earlier, Al Wakrah completed a double against Al Duhail with a thumping win over the former champions. The Blue Wave had also beaten Al Duhail 4-1 in October.
Mohamed Ayesh (52nd minute), Jacinto Dala (55th minute), Khaled Munir (57th minute) and Mohamed Benyettou (88th minute) were the scorers as Al Wakrah ran riot in the second half.
Al Wakrah are third with 28 points after their eighth victory from 15 matches. The Blue Wave, who are five points behind Al Duhail, have a game in hand against Al Sadd.
On the other hand, the defeat, their third, was yet another setback for Al Duhail’s title hopes. The Red Knights stood on 33 points from 16 matches.
The first half passed off without major chances for both teams. Al Wakrah had two efforts by Benyettou and one by Khaled Munir mainly to show. Benyettou’s shot was blocked by Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria on the first occasion and then defender Toby Alderweireld blocked the Algerian forward’s shot.
Meanwhile, Khaled Munir sent his shot wide of the target. For Al Duhail, spearhead Michael Olunga made some efforts, in vain. Al Wakrah brought out a far better display in the second half even as the rival defence stumbled. The floodgates opened in the 52nd minute after Ayesh scored the opener by heading in Murad Naji’s free-kick from the left.
Two goals followed in quick succession. Dala came up with a neat finish off a through pass by Khalid Munir, who himself scored soon off a rebound from the goalkeeper who blocked Benyettou’s cross from the left. Benyettou got into the scoring act towards close as his shot went in off the right post.
Al Duhail striker Almoez Ali hit a shot from the top of the box in the 77th minute, but it flew over the bar. Duhail made some desperate attempts as the game wore on, but for a goal. Duhail’s Assim Madibo was shown the red card in stoppage time.
In another game, Al Khor and Al Sailiya played out a 1-1 draw. Giannis Fetfatzidid scored for Al Khor in the 78th minute with a penalty kick before Mohamed Salah El Neel’s stoppage time header rescued a point for Sailiya. Al Khor are 11th with 11 points, while Sailiya are bottom and 12th with seven points.
YESTERDAY'S RESULTS
Al Khor 1-1 Al Sailiya
Al Wakrah 4-0 Al Duhail
Al Sadd 4-2 Al Arabi
TODAY'S FIXTURES
Al Shamal vs Umm Salal
At Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (16:30)
Qatar SC vs Al Gharafa
At Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium (18:40)
Al Rayyan vs Al Ahli
At Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium (18:40)
