Al Sadd scored a thumping 6-0 win over Umm Salal in Week 12 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd club on Thursday.

The victory not only saw The Wolves bounce back from their postponed game 0-1 setback against Al Arabi last Sunday (also their only loss of the league this season), but also open up a four-point lead at the top of rankings with a tally of 31 points going into the league championship’s big break due to the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.

Al Sadd displayed superb form scoring their first three goals within 18 minutes and four of the total six in the first half of the match, with skipper Hassan Al Haydous scoring a brace.

The goals for Al Sadd were scored by Gonzalo Plata (10th minute), Al Haydous (14th and 49th minutes), Akram Afif (18th and 43rd minutes) and Guilherme Torres (69th minute).

The Wolves could well have scored some more, but for some close finishes and off-target shots. Their show was, however, a big delight for fans on home turf.

Al Sadd opened the scoring with Baghdad Bounedjah moving into the box to get to a long pass and head it to Afif on the left who returned the ball and Bounedjah this time moved it to Plata on the right to essay a strong left-foot kick into the far left corner. And the excitement for fans had just begun!

Four minutes later, Al Sadd again attacked from the left and Plata picked on a defence header from outside the box was assisted by Bounedjah with a back flip as he moved left to dash in into the striking zone. Plata then crossed it to an unmarked Al Haydous on the right to score (2-0).

The star players were again in the act, this time from the right as Plata provided Al Haydous with a pass inside the box and Al Haydous set it up for an onrushing Afif to do the needful (3-0).

The unrelenting attacks of Al Sadd left a hapless Umm Salal with no scope to defend as they made long passes and bursting moves.

Just before the half-time in one such move, Plata stormed in down the left to cross the ball to Afif (running between two defenders) and his kick saw the ball take defender Naim Laidouni’s boot on way into the net (4-0).

Al Haydous scored for his side soon on resumption, seizing a chance while breaking in from the right. He was then assisted by Bounedjah at the top of the box before the captain moved in to fire the goal (5-0).

The sixth and final strike of the match was provided by Torres who latched on to a pass from Akram from well inside the ‘D’ at the top of the box to send in a cracker of a kick (6-0).

This was Al Sadd’s second win over Umm Salal in the league. They had won the first leg 3-1.