Akram Afif scored the winner as Al Sadd kept up their charge with a 1-0 win over Umm Salal in Week 15 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Grand Hamad Stadium of Al Arabi club on Friday.

Umm Salal presented a strong challenge and their goalkeeper Louay Sherif Ashour stood out. Later, substitute goalkeeper Jehad Mohammed also showed his mettle by stopping a penalty kick from Al Sadd’s Akram Afif in the second half.

But Afif’s early opening strike in the sixth minute of the match saw the defending champions move on to 31 points, behind leaders Al Duhail on 35 points. Umm Salal remained on 14 points.

It was a tough challenge for Umm Salal as The Wolves came out firing on all cylinders and Afif put them ahead with a fine strike from top of the box that beat two defenders and the goalkeeper to his right. Afif was provided with a fine assist on the left by Claudio Luiz Leonel (Claudinho) after Al Sadd had won the ball in the midfield.

Umm Salal could not recover from the setback and were mostly pushed back by Al Sadd’s repeated attempts.

Al Sadd could have doubled the lead in the 31st minute when a Rafa Mujica cross from the left gave Giovani Henrique on far right a superb chance in front of an empty net but his deflection saw the ball go out just past the right post.

In the 43rd minute, a Giovani header went over the bar.

In the second session, Al Sadd attacked more forcefully and had a few attempts at the goal including one from Moustafa Tarek, but Ashour was alert and kept the rivals at bay.

On the hour mark, Umm Salal tried to force things off a corner but an Antonio Mance angular header was well judged and held by Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.

Nine minutes later, Barsham also cut off a Kenji Gorre kick.

In the 71st minute, Afif moved into the rival ‘D’ and Ashour while shadowing fouled with a check from behind and the referee called for a penalty. Umm Salal chose to replace Ashour with goalkeeper Jehad Mohammad and it worked as he dived left to cut off Afif’s spot kick.

There were more exciting moments towards the end, but Al Sadd went on to prevail as Umm Salal failed to find an equalizer.