Al Sadd produced a sterling performance as they outclassed Al Gharafa 4-0 in a marquee clash of Week 5 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Thursday.

The Wolves dominated in all departments and struck twice in each half to leave The Cheetahs hapless.

Al Sadd’s mercurial forward Akram Afif scored the opening goal (26th minute-penalty) and set up other two as Hassan Al Haydous scored another (30th minute) and substitute Ali Asad got a brace in the 54th and 60th minutes.

The high-intensity match, however, was marred by some skirmishes between players of both sides and in the 90th minute Al Gharafa’s Lyanco Vojnovic was given the marching orders for trying to be physical against Afif following the former’s foul against another Al Sadd player.

The steamrollering Al Sadd left Al Gharafa shell-shocked from the very start and the only brief top moment for The Cheetahs was in the 19th minute when Yohan Boli moved threateningly into the box from the right, but in trying to keep pace lost control of the ball as Al Sadd defenders made a clearance.

Al Sadd’s Mohammed Waad soon brought up his team’s first big action as he made a strike in front of the goal and Lyanco handled the ball while taking an evasive action. The referee immediately signalled to the spot and the curly-haired Afif made no mistake with the penalty.

Minutes later, Afif made a superb move in the left flank as he moved the ball to an onrushing Paulo Otavio who sent in a cross to Al Haydous to make a left-footed kick on the volley and the ball rushed into the bottom right corner (2-0).

Al Gharafa did try to counter Al Sadd’s attack, but their close attempts missed the targets. Seydou Sano and Yacine Brahimi at times did come in scoring range, but they also lacked finishing.

Early in the second half, Al Sadd scored their third goal in an almost repeat of the earlier one. This time, it was Al Haydous sending the ball to an unmarked Mohammed Waad on the left, who then crossed the ball over to Ali Asad to score off his left foot on the volley beating Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yousef Hassan to his left (3-0).

The shock left Al Gharafa further bamboozled and Al Sadd kept attacking. In the 58th minute, Afif’s shot from the left of the box missed to the right as Al Gharafa survived another onslaught.

Minutes later, Afif from deep left provided an unmarked Ali Asad a beauty of a pass to head in his team’s fourth goal.

Al Sadd’s super show was lapped up by a large weekend crowd, while Al Gharafa’s fans were left dazed.

The fourth win of the league from five games took Al Sadd’s tally to 13 points, whereas Al Gharafa were left on 10 points.