Al Sadd made a telling start to their 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League campaign as they beat Umm Salal 3-1 in the concluding Week 1 clash at the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday.

Al Sadd’s mercurial striker Akram Afif scored the first goal and assisted for the third as they struck in the fifth, 26th and 48th minutes.

In between, Al Sadd’s Brazilian star Guilherme Torres produced a fine second goal. Yousef Abdurisag struck The Wolves’ third goal.

Umm Salal finally fetched a consolation goal late in the 86th minute as their striker Andy Delort latched on to a defensive lapse outside the box to send in the ball over goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.

It was too little too late though for Umm Salal.

Earlier, Afif provided Al Sadd with the forceful start by making the most of a Abdurisag pass inside the box to beat an onrushing defender and a diving rival goalkeeper to his left – finding the far right corner.

Umm Salal were at their best in the opening half and in the 21st minute almost had a wondrous successful strike, but Moroccan Oussama Tannane’s left-footed lob from almost 35 yards curled in from high to hit the outside of the left post.

Minutes later, Gonazalo Plata ran up to catch a long pass just near the right post and sent in an angular ball for an onrushing Torres to score Al Sadd’s second goal.

Al Sadd had a great start to the second half as well, as Afif and Abdurisag combined to succeed. Afif moved in from the left into the ‘D’ and passed the ball to Abdurisag who flicked with his left foot for the ball to go through a defender’s legs and past the outstretched hands of Umm Salal goalkeeper Sami Beldi.

Al Sadd could have had another goal to their tally early in the first session, but a wonderful Afif goal was disallowed as Abdurisag was ruled offside. The strike had come after Gonzalo Plata made a left-footed shot from outside the box following a set piece.

Umm Salal too were left ruing a miss when winger Kenji Gorre’s left-foot kick just missed the right post at the top.