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<p>Al Sadd deservedly emerged as the 2020-21 QNB Stars League champions after they exhibited an outstanding level right throughout the season in terms of results and statistics that confirmed their excellence and superiority.</p><p>Al Sadd were crowned the new league champions following their 3-0 victory over Umm Salal at the Al Sadd Stadium on Sunday, with four rounds remaining to be played.</p><p>The coronation ceremony took place after the match, strictly adhering to the precautionary measures and approved general health protocol implemented in the wake of Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.</p><p>Al Sadd thus remained as the only unbeaten team in the league so far. They became champions with 50 points (16 victories and two draws) after taking an unassailable lead.</p><p>Baghdad Bounedjah (34th minute), Yousef Abdulrazaq (51st minute) and Rodrigo Tabata (90+2 minute) scored the goals.</p><p>Umm Salal remained on 15 points after their ninth defeat.</p><p>In-form Bounedjah made the first attempt in the fourth minute, but his angular strike from on edge of the box was far from Umm Salal goalkeeper Baba Malick.</p><p>Captain Hasan Al Haydous fired a shot on target from a distance and Umm Salal were lucky to evade the threat after Malick got control of the ball despite fumbling.</p><p>As the clock reached the quarter of an hour, Al Sadd were completely in their traditional attacking style, putting constant pressure on the opposition, hardly giving the ball away. </p><p>They continued to attack mostly from the right wing, with feared striker Akram Afif and Spaniard Santi Cazorla also making dangerous moves. </p><p>Roozbeh Mohammad received a yellow card for a handball as he tried to block Nam Tae-Hee’s chip near the box with referee Abdulhadi Al Ruaile handing Al Sadd a free-kick, but Al Haydous’ strike from the centre went wide.      </p><p>Malick made a superb jumping save off Bounedjah’s header who received a long ball from Tae-hee near the penalty spot as Umm Salal continued to defy the pressure at half-hour mark.    </p><p>Bounedjah, left unmarked, finally broke the deadlock in another attack from the right with a perfect first-time flick from a close range after receiving a shot pass from midfielder Abdurisag. Malick guarding his left corner had no chance as the ball landed in his right corner. </p><p>The goal brought no respite for Umm Salal defence as Al Sadd looked to double their lead before half-time.</p><p>The second half started in a similar fashion with Al Sadd making inroads. Three minutes into the second half, Bounedjah fired a rocket that struck the left goal-post.</p><p>Yousef Abdulrazaq gave Al Sadd their second goal three minutes later, pushing the ball over the head of diving Malick from a close range after an assist from captain Al Haydos.    </p><p>Umm Salal tested Al Sadd’s defence on the hour mark with a move, but they failed to pose threat on Meshaal Barsham’s goal.</p><p>In the 65th minute, Bounedjah got a golden opportunity to score his second goal but his hit from a close range flew over the crossbar. In 72nd minute, Xavi sent fresh legs in veteran Tabata while calling back Afif.</p><p>Cazorla was carted off for a treatment after he collided with Roozbeh while racing into opposition’s box. Salem Al Hajri replaced the Spaniard with defender Musab Kheder replacing Pedro Miguel, 11 minutes before time.</p><p>The stoppages slowed down the pace of the match, but Al Sadd were still trying to find another goal. They got it in stoppage time after Tabata fired a superb left-footed drive from edge of the box as Al Sadd celebrated the title-winning victory.</p>