Baghdad Bounedjah led the charge with two goals as holders Al Sadd beat Al Ahli 2-1 in Week 8 of the 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the Al Ahli Stadium on Saturday.

Bounedjah scored in the 23rd and 32nd (penalty) minutes as Al Sadd moved on to 15 points and Al Ahli stayed on 10 points.

Abel Mathias scored for Al Ahli in the 48th minute.

It was Al Sadd’s fifth victory from six games. The Wolves have played two games less due to their AFC Champions League engagements. Their fixtures against Al Arabi in Week 5 and Al Khor in Week 7 were deferred.

Al Sadd had lost the other game, 2-4 against Al Rayyan in the Qatar Clasico in Week 6.

Al Ahli started off by shaking the Al Sadd net in the third minute, but the goal was disallowed as Abel was adjudged to have handled the ball while he was in the process of placing home a rebound from goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari.

Al Sadd took time to settle down and once they did, they controlled the game to go into half-time with a two-goal lead.

Al Sadd’s spearhead Bounedjah first found the mark through a volley with ease. The Algerian striker then converted a penalty, awarded after Al Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodriguez tripped Akram Afif inside the box.

Bounedjah was guilty of missing a sitter in the 42nd minute when he, latching on to a long lob by Jung Woo-Young, chipped the ball over the bar with only the goalkeeper in front.

Al Sadd’s Abdelrahman Moustafa caught the eye with his darting runs along the left. Other than them, The Brigadiers did not have much to show in the first half.

However, Al Ahli could reduce the margin not long after the second half started, Abel placing home the ball in a goalmouth melee after Mohamed Diame set him up off a corner kick.

The goal seemed to have boosted Al Ahli’s confidence as they attacked with vigour. Hernan Perez had a free-kick just about being parried over by the Al Sadd goalkeeper in the 65th minute.

It was Hernan vs Saad Al Dossari again in the 78th minute, the latter blocking the former’s shot with his chest in a close one-on-one encounter and Al Sadd held on for yet another victory.