Reigning champions Al Sadd defeated Al Shahania 5-0 in Week 18 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar Sports Club on Friday to go two points clear at the top.

Brazilian forward Giovani Henrique (33rd minute and 45+3 minute) and Akram Afif (59th minute penalty and 83rd minute) scored a brace each, while Rafa Mujica (53rd minute) scored one.

Their 13th win of the league championship took Al Sadd’s tally to 40 at the top of the ladder, two ahead of the chasing Al Duhail (38), while Al Shahania remained on 23 points.

Al Shahania managed to hold off the formidable rivals for the first half hour, but soon Afif ran down the left and Abdulla Al Yazidi provided a fine long lob from the midfield for the former to make a fine header in front of the goal which was latched on to by Giovani to strike and score the opener.

Al Shahania suffered a second blow in added time of the first half as a Claudio Luiz Leonel kick was blocked by a defender by the ball went to a vacant space in front of the goal near the small box and this time again the alert Giovani lunged forward to take the advantage and score.

Al Sadd held sway and early in the second session Afif burst into the danger zone to send across a fine cross from Mujica to put into the net.

Six minutes later, Al Shahania’s hopes were further dashed as Mohammed Bader Sayyar while trying to battle for the ball stepped on the toes of Mujica inside the top of the box and the referee called for a penalty. Afif coolly drove into the left corner of the net from the spot.

In the 71st minute, Al Sadd attacked again and Afif provided Giovani with a fine pass but the latter shot just over the crossbar from the right, looking for a hat-trick.

Afif was not, however, done and in the 83rd minute despite losing possession while on the go. The dazzling striker immediately made good of a cross from Yusuf Abdurisag from the left to strike, and the ball found bottom of the right post before going in.