Al Ansari shines as Xavi’s Al Sadd beat 10-man Al Wakrah

Doha, Qatar: Xavi Hernandez continued the unbeaten start to his coaching career but his Al Sadd side were made to work hard by a fighting Al Wakrah, who played most of the match with 10 men, in the opening fixture of the 2019-20 Qatar Stars League season.

Though the final scoreline of 4-1 looks like a comfortable outing for the reigning champions, it was not easy by any means for them.

Xavi, who took over the charge at Sadd after helping them to the title last season, must have hoped for a comfortable victory when Abdulaziz Al Ansari put Sadd ahead in the 9th minute. And when Wakrah were down to 10 men in the 18th when Ali Malollah Karami was shown a red after VAR consultation the Wolves appeared in the mood for a thrashing.

But Wakrah put up a brave show and scored the equaliser through Mohamed Benyettou in the 25th before a late flurry of goals — from Abdul Karim Hassan and a double from Ahmed Sayyar — gave Sadd all three points.

Sadd did not take long to make their mark at the start.

Akram Afif tracked the run of Al Ansari, one of Sadd’s most impressive players, into the box and found him with a perfect pass, and the Sadd forward, who came from Al Kharaitiyat during the close season, held off the defender before calmly slotting the ball past Soud Al Khater.

Karami was shown a direct red by referee Nayef Al Khadri who changed his initial yellow after checking with the VAR, but if at all, it only toughened Wakrah, who were just not willing to give up.

Cristian Ceballos, their playmaker, left Gabi in his wake on the right before sending a pinpoint cross which Mohamed Benyettou met with a terrific right-footed finish.

Afif seemed to be suffering from the aftereffects of the knock from Karami and was replaced by Hassan Al Haydous soon.

Wakrah, though playing with 10 men, came close to taking the lead at the start of the second half, but Ahmed Fadel could not find the target, with Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb out of position.

Sadd had better chances, with Boualem Khoukhi sending his volley over the bar while Wakrah captain Bruno Uvini made a goal-line clearance to deny Al Haydous.

Despite Wakrah’s gallant fight, Sadd were slowly tightening the screws and in the 74th minute Abdulkarim Hassan buried a loose ball into the bottom corner after Al Ansari cut the ball back from the right byline.

Al Ansari stung the hands of Al Khater with a powerful right-footer before Sadd made it 3-1 in the 84th minute when Ahmed Sarrar finished off Ali Asad’s cut back with a flourish.

Sayyar scored his second of the evening in a similar fashion but Xavi would need a much improved performance from his side in the AFC Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Al Nassr next Monday.