Fine margins could see Al Sadd just miss out on the QSL title

Title chasing Al Sadd is the next side under the spotlight as we look at the progress of the teams in the QSL during the international break.

It’s been a near perfect campaign for the Wolves this term, to date only registering one defeat in the league. In the summer Al Sadd moved to sign Algerian winger Jugurtha Hamroun, and the Steaua București loanee made an impact in the early half of the season registering a host of assists for his new side. Meanwhile compatriot Bagdad Bounjah has enjoyed a fine first full season in the QSL, registering 13 goals from his first 10 games of the campaign.

The first half of the season went well, with the Wolves comfortably dispatching sides below them in the league, whilst registering away draws with sides looking to be in the title picture come the end of the season. The only real blip came in late November with a frustrating 1-1 draw with a struggling Al Wakrah side.

Credit to Jesaldo Ferriera’s side they battled back and registered an impressive eight game undefeated streak in the league heading into the New Year. This included an impressive 5-0 win over current champions Al Rayyan and an 8-0 humbling of Umm Salal.

Form was certainly on Al Sadd’s side heading into their crunch match with fellow undefeated side Lekhwiya at the start of January; however coach Ferriera was eager to play down that this was a title deciding encounter. In a tight game Al Sadd suffered their first defeat of the season, with Lekhwiya edging them out 2-1 thanks to a header from Captain Mohammed Mussa on the 90^th minute.

The remaining seven games have seen Sadd drop points on just two occasions with bad tempered draws with Al Shahania and Umm Salal. Despite dropping points Sadd have had a number of key victories, including a 7-0 hammering of local rivals Al Arabi, a game which saw Bagdad Bounjah notching a staggering five goals for his side.

To date, Sadd have registered sixteen wins six draws and just one defeat this season. With only two points between Sadd and Lekhwiya, the Wolves need to register three wins from their final games and hope that Lekhwiya will drop from their final matches, if Al Sadd is to lift their first QSL falcon shield since the 2012/2013 season.

Sadd are very much in the title hunt this term, and have three challenging games to end off the season. First up is a crunch Qatar Clasico tie against Al Rayyan in round 24, whilst next up will be game against Al Sailya who have the potential to trouble any QSL side on their day. Al Sadd end their campaign with a tough tie against El Jaish, and if results go their way could be a title deciding tie.

It’s been a fascinating battle at the top of the QSL standings this term, and Al Sadd has certainly showed the composure and consistency of QSL champions. However at the highest level, the finest margins count and certainly draws against lower opposition in Al Wakrah, Al Shahania and Umm Salal could prove to be the difference maker in Al Sadd lifting their fourteenth league crown.