Wolves get the better of Al Rayyan in Qatar Clasico

Al Sadd kept the pressure on league leaders Lekhwiya with a comprehensive 4-1 Qatar Clasico win over Al Rayyan. Michael Laudrup’s side saw midfielder Daniel Goumou sent off midway through the first half, and Al Sadd made their advantage count scoring three goals in what proved to be a comfortable victory for the side. 

The Wolves broke the deadlock on the twelfth minute though midfielder Jugurtha Hamroun who smashed the ball from outside of the box to beat Rayyan keeper Omar Barry and give Sadd a early lead on the twelfth minute. 

Two minutes later Jugurtha Hamroun  was on the other end of a similar chance from closer range but the Summer signing spurned his effort well over. Sadd where in the ascendancy  and Hamroun was again at the heart of the action, whipping in a fine cross  which round the head of Morteza Pouraliganji hit the post with a header, in what was a sustained period of pressure from the Wolves. 

Michael Laudrup’s side  registered their first chance of note on the twenty first minute but Sebastain Soria’s shot went well wide. They quickly followed up with another half-chance when  winger Al Harazi found Sergio Garcia but his shot was well blocked. 

Omar Barry kept Al Rayyan in the tie with a instinctive save to deny a snap header from leading scorer Bagdad Bounjah on the 33rd minute. The game tilted in Sadd’s favour when midfielder Daniel Goumou saw red for a second yellow after a reckless elbow on Hassan Haydoos. 

Sadd didn't waste any time in pressing home their advantage. Defender Pedro Miguel made surging run which saw the Qatari international brought down in the box, leaving the referee little choice but to award a penalty. Leading scorer Bagdad Bounjah made no mistake from the penalty spot, calmly slotting the ball down the middle of the goal. 

On the stroke of half time Al Sadd scored a third to all but confirmed the points through Iranian international Morteza Pouraliganji. who planted a fine header into the bottom right hand corner to give Sadd a 3-0 lead at half-time. 

Al Sadd didn't let up and scored the fourth goal of the tie through Abdulkarim Hassan on the 51st minute. Xavi picked out the Qatari international defender, who hit his shot past Omar Barry who should of done better to stop the ball. 

The ten men of Al Rayyan valiantly tried to get back into the game, and Rodrigo Tabata did grab a consolation with five minutes left to play. However Sadd held on out to register a 4-1 win and maintain the two point gap between them and league leaders Lekhwiya.