Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd kept up their winning run as they edged a resistant Al Markhiya 1-0 in their Week 12 clash of the QNB Stars League 2022-2023 season at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday.
In the other matches of the day, Al Ahli beat Umm Salal 3-1 while Al Gharafa got the better of Al Sailiya 2-1.
For Al Sadd, striker Baghdad Bounedjah scored the winner in the 12th minute of the match.
The Wolves, who after being strengthened by the return of their top stars, are continuing their winning march and upward climb in the rankings table.
The defending champions are now 5th in the rankings with 16 points while Al Markhiya remained 9th with 9 points.
Al Sadd struck early with a fine goal following a free-wheeling action when Rodrigo Tabata set the ball through for Musaab Mohamed to send in a cross to Bounedjah in the centre to run the ball into an open net as the goalkeeper had rushed out to the left.
But for being beaten at that, Al Markhiya’s goalkeeper Loukay Sherif Ashour did a good job for his team throughout the match holding on to several solid attempts from Al Sadd.
One of glorious chances for Al Sadd came in the 59th minute when their mercurial forward Akram Afif sent in a curling kick from top left of the box but the ball went on to hit the far right post. On the rebound, Musaab took a kick but goalkeeper Ashour dived to stave away the danger.
Soon in the 63rd minute, Bounedjah had another chance of doubling the lead when put through with a fine ball but he failed to beat goalkeeper Ashour.
Al Sadd kept Al Markhiya on their toes with several attacking moves. In the 73rd minute, Afif provided Santi Cazorla with a good pass but the Spaniard also failed to beat the goalkeeper.
Earlier in the opening half, Al Sadd were successful in scoring in the 28th minute as Pedro Miguel struck but he was ruled off-side.
Al Sadd had two off-sides in the match with their players being eager to latch on to the ball.
Al Markhiya, who did a superb job defending, also had their chances and a great one in the 79th minute when Ayman Hussein headed off a long ball but an alert Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb foiled their hopes.
Hanni brace in Al Ahli win
Al Ahli rallied from being a goal down to beat Umm Salal 3-1 at the Al Ahli Stadium on Sunday.
Sofiane Hanni scored a brace for the winners, striking once each in the two halves (31st and 71st minutes), while Hossein Kanaanizadegan earlier opened the scoring for them in the 29th minute (penalty).
Umm Salal were first put in the lead in the 7th minute by Jonathan Kodjia.
The Orange Fortress were dealt with a blow in the 69th minute when Adbelrahman Raafat was shown the red card after he handled the ball while taking an evasive action to a free kick ball.
While Umm Salal made a rollicking start with the duo of Valentino Yuel and Jonathan Kodjia combining effectively to produce a fine goal. While Yuel sent in a flying cross, Kodjia was alert to make a dipping dive from the right to head the ball into the goal as Abulrahmman Al Rashidi failed to connect.
Their joy was however shortlived as Umm Salal soon received a penalty following a VAR check after Al Ahli’s Yazan Abdallah Al Naimat was fouled with goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar going for the ball.
Hossein Kanaani made no mistake from the spot to level the scores.
Hanni then put Al Ahli ahead with a superb goal from the top of the box beating two defenders and the goalkeeper.
Al Ahli consolidated their 2-1 lead midway through the second half. Just as Umm Salal were rueing the loss of Raafat, Hanni latched on to a clearance ball to produce another fine goal - almost an encore of his first. Moving through from the left, he went to the top of the box to send in a rasping kick to the right corner of the goal which beat the goalkeeper.
The blow further dented Umm Salal’s hopes who were also unlucky at times. A Kodjia attempt from inside the ‘D’ beat Al Ahli goalkeeper Yazan Naim but the ball went just wide of the left post.
The victory for Al Ahli saw them move into the top four of the rankings with 17 points from 11 matches.
Umm Salal stay tenth with 7 points from ten games.