Al Sadd 2 Lekhwiya 1

Sadd leave it late to defeat Lekhwiya.

Al Sadd took a major step in confirming their Top 4 status this season with a dramatic late 3-2 victory over rivals Lekhwiya in a pulsating QSL clash on Sunday evening. A 86^th minute winner from Qatari international defender Abdelkarim Hassan proved enough for the Wolves who have opened up a seven point gap on fifth placed Umm Salal.

The game started off at a breakneck pace. A powerful forward run from Nadir Belhadj, who’s pass found striker Bagdad Bounjah in the six yard box, the Algerian international quickly passed the ball to Hassan Haydoos who lashed a fierce shot past Lekhwiya Stopper Claude Amin with just 4 on the clock, 1-0 to Al Sadd.

Lekhwiya found their way back into the tie on the 15th minute. Alain Dioko went past Nadir Belhadj with a nutmeg. Dioko then picked out the onrushing Karim Boudiaf who swept the ball past Sadd stopper Muhannad Naim.

With the game on a equal footing both sides carved out chances to take the lead. On the 27^th minute the ever dangerous Bagdad was brought down outside the box.From the resulting free kick Xavi’s shot was heading for the top corner, but Claude Amin pulled of a good save to tip it over the bar. Whilst on the 35^th minute a flashed effort from Lekhwiya left back Khalid Muftah,  just went past the post.

Sadd took the lead in the 42^nd minute when striker Bagdad Bounjah was bundled in the area by Tresor the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Hassan Haydoos whose stuttered run fooled Claude Amin. Allowing the Qatari international to powerfully finish down the middle of the goal giving Sadd a 2-1 lead.

Bagdad Bounjah could of given Sadd a 3-1 lead but his close range shot wastefully went past the post, the first half ended 2-1 to the Wolves.



In the second half Lekhwiya pushed hard for a equalizer and started to pin Al Sadd back. On the 50^th minute a smart ball from Nam Tae Hee found Alain Dioko. But the Congaleese striker fluffed his lines at the vital moment; the ensuring goal mouth scramble was eventually cleared by the Sadd defense.

The tie swung in the favor of Al Sadd when defender Mohamed Musa was shown a red card for a second bookable offence on the 60^th minute. Despite being a man down, It was Lekhwiya who looked likely to grab an equalizer who clipped long balls for the energetic Dioko.

The closest they came to scoring was a thunderous Isamail Mohammed shot which fell to the Qatari international from a Nam Tae Hee corner. Thankfully Sadd stopper Muhannad Naim denied him with a good save.

Lekhwiya’s perseverance eventually paid off in the 84^th minute when Ismael Mohammed leveled the scores at 2-2 close range for his side. The pacy winger turned in a Nam Tae Hee cross to the delight of head coach Djamel Belmadi.

Belmadi’s joy was short-lived however, when Sadd grabbed the winner just two minutes later. A pinpoint free-kick from Xavi found an unmarked Abdelkarim Hassan who headed gave Al Sadd the winner, much to the delight of the Al Sadd faithful.

 
El Jaish 2 Al Rayyan 1

Romarinho stunner silences Al Rayyan

Goals from Abderrazak Hamdallah and fine individual strike from Romarinho ensured that El Jaish handed Al Rayyan their second loss of the QSL season, defeating the champions in a frantic clash at Al Sadd stadium on Sunday evening.

The QSL champions started the tie on the front foot and could of taken the lead as early as the 2^nd minute. Sergio Garcia’s cross headed over by Sebastian Soria, the former Lekhwiya man really should have converted for his side. Sebastian Soria finally did find the back of the net, on the 12^th minute but he was rightly judged offside by the linesman.

El Jaish looked the more dynamic side in the opening exchanges, the running of midfielder Othman Al-Yahri exemplified the forward thinking Jaish  side. His tireless work in midfield pushed his side on in the first half, linking up well with Hamdullah and Romarinho. They created their first chance of note when Magid Mohammed’s swivel and shot was pushed away for a corner by Omar Barry on the 23^rd minute.

Al Rayyan seemed to be denied constantly by a resolute Jaish backline.  The closest they came to scoring was a chipped effort from Sebastian Soria on the 38^th minute, which just went over the Jaish crossbar.

In truth the first half with a scrappy affair, the Rayyan defensive duo of Nathan and Gonzalo Viera picked up a yellow card apiece in the first half. Jaish carved their best chance of the tie on the 41^st minute, a fine Lucas Mendes Freekick rattled the Rayyan crossbar, the first half ended honors even at 0-0.



Al Rayyan took the lead against the odds from the penalty spot. Sergio Garcia was adjudged to be bundled down in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Captain Rodrigo Tabata stepped up to score his 19^th goal of the season.

Two minutes later, it was Jaish’s turn to win a penalty.  Abderrazak Hamdallah was hacked down in the box by Rayyan defender Nathan. Referee Salman Falahi had no choice to point to the spot. Hamdallah picked himself up to slot past Omar Barry for his 17^th goal of the season, game on!

From that point, the game turned into a scrappy affair with tackles flying in and both sides demanding free-kicks at every opportunity.  Jaish took the lead on the 63^rd minute, with a fine individual effort from Romarinho. The Brazilian’s showed pace and strength to hold off Rayyan defender Nathan to lash the ball past a hapless Omar Barry.

The QSL champions immediately woke up and peppered the Jaish goal in the final 20 minutes. With the pick of the chances falling to Ahmed Aladeen, but the Qatari U23 Internationals shot was well blocked by Jaish defender Lucas Mendes.

The tie threatened to boil over at times, with referee Salman Falahi doing a good job in controlling the increasingly frantic sides. Defender Mousa Haroon saw red in the final stages for a second bookable offense.  However Sabri Lamouchi’s side weathered the Rayyan attacks to inflict Al Rayyn to only their second defeat of the domestic season.