Xavi stars as Al Sadd defeat Al Shahania 4-0

A captain’s performance from Xavi gave Al Sadd a comfortable 4-0 win over newly promoted Al Shahania at Al Arabi stadium on Wednesday evening. A brace from Bagdad Bounedjah and  a goal from midfielder Ali Asad gave Sadd all three points in a one sided affair. 

After snapping pictures with fans on his way into thestadium, Barca legend and Al Sadd Xavi skipper got down to businessend of things the moment the referee blew the whistle at kick-off time.

With fifteen minutes on the clock Al Shahania goalkeeper Khalifa Al-Dosari committed a schoolboy error and brought down Al Sadd striker Bagdad Bounedjah inside his own box.

Referee Abdulrahman Al-Jassim quickly pointed to the spot kick and Bounedjah easily converted the penalty to give the former champions the lead in the 6th minute.

In the 15th minute, Xavi missed an open-goal opportunity as he fired wide from about five meters from the goal-line inside the Al Shahania box. Xavi was in fine form in the first half and had several chances to double his sides advantage. Fortunately for Jose Fernando’s men, keeper Khalifa Al Dosari pulled off a host of saves to deny the former Spanish international. 

Nine minutes from the first half, Al Sadd doubled their lead. Defender Abdulkarim Hassan slipped in a neat ball to Xavi who took first-time aim at the goal and scored his side's second goal with relative calm.

After dominating the first half, Al Sadd added two more goals in the second half. Asad scored in the 69th minute while Bounedjah scored his second inthe 78th minute as Al Sadd picked up three points from the round six clash.