Doha: A brilliant hat-trick by AFC Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif powered Al Sadd to a 5-1 win over Al Gharafa as the Wolves returned to winning ways at the Thani bin Jassim Stadium yesterday.
In the round-11 clash of the QNB Stars League, Baghdad Bounedjah opened the scoring in the second minute, with Afif (13th-minute penalty, 52nd and 72nd minutes) and Hassan Al Haydous (31st-minute penalty) also contributing to the scoreline.
Sofiane Hanni reduced the deficit for Al Gharafa in the 74th minute.
Al Sadd now have 18 points with two games in hand, against Al Arabi and Al Khor which were deferred due to their AFC Champions League engagements.
Al Gharafa stood on 20 points as they suffered their third defeat.
Fresh from their FIFA Club World Cup exploits, Al Sadd faced up against one of this season’s top sides in Al Gharafa, but were in no mood to compromise as they set off at a blistering pace.
With the game barely a minute old, the home side was unable to clear its lines as Akram found Bounedjah with a through ball and the Algerian nutmegged his opponent before exquisitely chipping the ball over an onrushing Qasem Burhan to open the scoring.
Ten minutes later, they were offered the chance to double their lead when Yousef Muftah brought down Bounedjah in the penalty area, with the referee having no option but to point to the spot. Akram stepped up confidently to send Qasem the wrong way and extend Al Sadd’s lead.
VAR then played a big role in the third goal as it twice intervened in the same passage of play, firstly to rule Bounedjah’s free-kick was handled by Adlene Guedioura in the wall, resulting in a penalty. Bounedjah then missed the subsequent penalty with VAR ordering a re-take as Qasem had advanced off his line too soon. This time, Al Haydous took control with a perfectly-executed shot.
The fourth and fifth goals of the evening came in similar fashion from the left side as Boualem Khoukhi played in Akram to chip over the luckless Qasem from an acute angle, before he completed his hat-trick with a well-executed pass into the side of the net.
Al Gharafa had time for a late consolation when Sofiane scored a drive from outside of the penalty area, but the comprehensive victory was well and truly completed by that point.
Earlier, Al Shahania and Al Khor played out a 2-2 draw at the Al Ahli Stadium.
Ahmed Hammoudan (25th minute) and Tiago Bezerra (53rd minute) scored for Al Khor, while Al Shahania’s goals came through Kesse Amangoua (36th minute) and Ramin Rezaeian (82nd minute).
Al Shahania ended up as the only winless team as they completed the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League. They have five points, having lost six matches.
Al Khor moved on to six points.
Al Khor have played one game less as their Week 7 fixture against Al Sadd was deferred owing to the latter’s AFC Champions League engagement. It has now been scheduled for 21st January, 2020.
Al Shahania dominated possession with 58 per cent. Both teams had their share of chances and the match was almost evenly fought.
After Hammoudan gave Al Khor the lead, Amangoua helped Al Shahania draw parity with a solo effort that culminated in a long-range shot that went in. And the first half ended 1-1.
Tiago again put Al Khor ahead with an angular shot.
Al Shahania’s second equaliser came late, in the form of a header by Rezaeian.
