Al Sadd’s crowning as the 2018-19 season QNB Stars League champions highlighted the Week 21 action, which also saw high drama and excitement, and 24 goals being scored.

Al Sadd defeated Al Ahli 7-2 to seal their record-extending 14th Qatar league title, with one round of matches remaining. The Wolves’ coronation happened as they needed only a victory after going into the match with a four-point lead over nearest challengers and reigning champions Al Duhail.

Al Sadd last won the Qatar league in the 2012-13 season.

Qatar Stars League CEO Mr. Hani Taleb Ballan and Qatar National Bank General Manager for Communications Mr. Salem Anzan Al Nuaimi crowned Al Sadd in front of their home fans.

QNB Stars League top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah led the charge with a hat-trick, while Hassan Al Haydous (two goals), Akram Afif and Jung Woo-Young also scored the goals to help Al Sadd take an unassailable lead as they moved to 54 points with their 17th victory.

Nigel de Jong and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim found Al Ahli’s goals.

In the process, Al Sadd also put behind the disappointment of losing 1-4 to Al Ahli in the first leg.

Meanwhle, Al Duhail lost 0-1 to Al Kharaitiyat in simultaneous kick-off, with Mohammed Salam netting the all-important goal.

While the victory gave Al Kharaitiyat hopes of staying in the First Division, it was a blow to Al Duhail. Nevertheless, The Red Knights are assured of second-place finish in this season’s QNB Stars League. They stayed on 47 points.

Al Rayyan and Al Sailiya played out a 2-2 draw in another much-anticipated clash. Al Sailiya and Al Rayyan remained in third and fourth position with 35 and 34 points respectively.

Gelmin Rivas and Rodrigo Tabata scored for Al Rayyan, while Majdi Siddiq and Adel Badr Ahmed were on target for Al Sailiya as battle for the third position became intense between these two teams.

Al Shahania and Umm Salal swapping the eighth and ninth positions was the only change in the standings as far as teams’ rankings are concerned.

Al Shahania defeated Umm Salal 5-2 for their sixth victory as they moved to 24 points, one more than Umm Salal.

For Al Shahania, Rebin Sulaka, Kesse Amangoua, Luciano Vazquez, Saad Hussain and Ramin Rezaeian scored. For Umm Salal, who suffered their 10th defeat, Mahmoud Al Mawas scored both goals.

Al Khor and Al Gharafa were locked in a goalless draw. The one point took Al Khor’s tally to 19 as Al Gharafa stayed seventh with 26 points.

Thus, the battle to avoid relegation too hotted up between Al Khor, Qatar SC and Al Kharaitiyat.

Al Arabi stood sixth with 30 points after beating Qatar SC 2-1, with goals from Gasser Zakaria and Fahad Khalfan. Qatar SC’s goal was scored by Ali Al Mohannadi.