Baghdad Bounedjah’s hat-trick helped Al Shamal to a decisive 5-2 victory against Al Arabi in Week 7 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Khor Stadium on Saturday.

Hot-shot Bounedjah got his goals in the first minute, 45+2 and 82nd minute, while Omar Mohammed added two more (21st and 31st minutes). Al Arabi’s goals came through Alaaelddin Mohammed Hasan (sixth minute) and Yazan Al Naimat (16th minute).

Al Shamal, who suffered a 2-4 defeat to Al Ahli in the sixth week, now have 10 points, while Al Arabi remained on seven.

Al Shamal got off to a dream start, with in-form striker Bounedjah taking advantage of a defensive error to fire them ahead with arguably the fastest goal of the season so far, after finding the back of the net with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box in 27 seconds of play.

The early goal, though quite stunning, did however not deter The Dream Team’s spirit as they went in search of a quick response, which they got in the sixth minute through Alaaelddin, whose right-footed shot from the centre of the box, following a sublime pass from Marco Verratti, went way beyond the reach of Babacar Seck as parity was restored.

By the 16th minute, Al Arabi had gone from a goal behind to a goal ahead with Al Naimat's scoring from the centre of the box after Helal Mohamed Al Saeed took advantage of a mistake from Al Shamal’s defence to hijack the ball before setting up the Jordanian professional for the goal.

The game went up a gear higher after the goal, with both sides playing impressive attacking football.

While it seemed Al Arabi were in a good stead to add more to their tally, Al Shamal surprised with a goal in the 21st minute through Omar Mohammed, who somehow managed to hit the target with a right-footed shot from a tight angle to the left of goalkeeper Jasem Al Hail's goalpost.

Ten minutes later, Omar Mohammed wowed the crowd with a goal-of-the-month contender when he ran almost the whole length of the field, following a quick counter, before rounding up both Al Arabi’s last man in defence and the goalkeeper to calmly slot in the ball for Al Shamal's third of the night and his own brace.

Unsatisfied with their lone-goal lead, Al Shamal continued to relentlessly pound on Al Arabi’s door in search of a goal and their efforts were rewarded two minutes into added time with Bounedjah getting his second of the night with a right-footed shot from the centre of Al Arabi box, with Omar Mohammed providing the assist, following a fast counter-attack.

The situation remained unchanged heading into the second half, with Al Shamal taking their two-goal advantage into the half-time break.

Al Shamal continued from where they stopped on resumption of the second half, and they could have added to their tally in the 52nd minute after Bounedjah waltzed his way into Al Arabi’s final third with some fine football artistry only to have his goal-bound shot blocked to the disappointment of their vociferous fans who were already on their feet in expectation of another goal celebration.

A spirited Al Arabi pushed hard to cut the deficit, and they almost got one back in the 62nd minute, only for Simo Keddari to see his header from the right side of the six yard box, following a set-piece situation, go narrowly wide.

Despite Al Arabi’s efforts, it was Al Shamal who extended their lead, with Bounedjah completing his hat-trick in the 82nd minute after hijacking the ball from Al Arabi’s Keddari just outside of the center-line and outrunning everyone before laying up a weighed shot with his right foot, which goalkeeper Al Hail had no answer for.

A deflated Al Arabi could only pray for no additional goals from their opponents as the game wound down with Al Shamal’s commanding victory.