Al Sadd prevailed over a challenging Muaither 2-0 in Week 7 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium of Al Ahli club on Saturday.

The win saw The Wolves move to the top of the table with 16 points, the same as Al Gharafa but ahead on better goal difference, while Muaither remained on four points.

Akram Afif (42nd-minute, penalty) and substitute Hashem Ali (90+4 minute) scored the goals for Al Sadd.

Muaither put up a strong resistance against their formidable rivals in both sessions of play, but still could not stop them from breaking through twice with long balls and some superb passing.

Livewire winger Akram broke the deadlock for Al Sadd after he drew a foul from Muaither’s Ramon Arias in the danger area. Akram was moving in dangerously with the ball when Arias felled him on the right and the referee immediately signalled for the spot. Akram coolly scored with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net.

The added time of the opening half saw more action from Akram as he soon attempted to go over the goalkeeper and did succeed, but the ball went a bit more to the right and just away from the right post.

Soon after the break, Akram again made a telling strike in the 49th minute after picking a fine pass from Mohammed Waad, from the left of the box, but his kick went on to hit the crossbar.

Muaither had a few good chances too, but they fumbled in front of the goal. In the 17th minute, Guy Mbenza unleashed a powerful shot, but it was well saved in the top left corner by Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.

In the 25th minute, Jamal Hamed’s left-footed shot from long range missed to the right.

In the 48th minute, Denis Alibec got a through ball from Abdulghani Munir, but was found to be offside.

Alibec again had a chance in the 72nd minute, but his left-foot shot from just outside the box went too high.

Later in the 88th minute when Muaither jostled to get the equalizer, Alibec got a through ball from captain Ayman El Hassouni and rushed ahead with only one man to beat, but he was caught offside.

Even as Muaither rued their missed chance, Al Sadd launched another attack with Akram initiating a fast move from near centre. He passed the ball to Yusuf Abdurisag, who soon moved ahead to pass it back to Afif on the right while beating defenders. Afif then sent the ball back again to Abdurisag in the centre and on top of the box, but he wisely moved it to his left to an unmarked Hashem Ali to score.

It was a fine display of Al Sadd’s teamwork and fine execution, which thrilled their fans.