Al Sadd march into Amir Cup final

Doha, Qatar: Al Sadd are a just one match away from completing a domestic double after a 2-0 victory against a battling Al Rayyan took them to the final of the Amir Cup on Saturday.

Ali Asad’s early strike and Baghdad Bounedjah’s beautiful goal, his 48th of the season, were enough for Sadd, who will take on the winners of the second semifinal between Al Duhail SC and Al Sailiya in the final on May 17.

The title clash at the spectacular Al Wakrah Stadium also marks the historic opening of the second completed World Cup venue and for Sadd and their fans, the match has added significance as it will be the swansong of their captain Xavi Hernandez and coach Jesualdo Ferreira.

Xavi was playing his final match at Al Sadd Stadium and the fans chose the sixth minute to thank him, unfurling a huge banner with his face and his jersey number 6 printed on it along with a big ‘muchas gracias’.

But Rayyan were having none of that and in fact, at that exact moment Xavi was gingerly getting up after a challenge from Mohammed Juma.

The match was off to a stormy start with chances at both ends, tough tackles galore, yellow cards for players from either side and a beautiful goal from Ali Asad, who is enjoying his time in the middle.

Akram Afif tested Fahad Younis in the third minute with a left-footer, which the Rayyan goalkeeper blocked with his legs before Lucca Borges drew a fine save from Saad Al Sheeb at the other end.

But like in most of their matches Sadd did not take long to open the scoring and like in their last home game against Al Ahli, it was Ali Asad who found the target.

Xavi spread the ball to wide left and Ali Asad making a late run into the box swept the Qatari winger’s low cross into the back of the net with a beautiful left-footer.

Ali Asad has not always been the first choice for Jesualdo Ferreira but there is certainly an unhurried grace in his game, as he again displayed.

But the pace of the game in general, especially in the first half, was explosive, to say the least. There was plenty of tough challenges and needling involved, making it a busy evening for referee Salman Falahi.

Juma and Gonzalo Viera of Rayyan and Bounedjah and Hamad Ismael of Sadd got into referee’s books for rough play in the first half itself.

As always, Bounedjah was desperate to make his mark in the game and in the 35th minute Dami Traore had to make a sliding tackle to stop his surging run right through the middle.

Though Falahi first gave Sadd just a corner, he changed his decision and awarded them a penalty after checking with VAR, to the utter dismay of Rayyan players.

But Baker made a fine save to deny Bounedjah and keep Rayyan in the game at half time.

The Lions started the second half brightly with Gelmin Rivas’ shot deflected out for a corner.

Rayyan could not make anything out of it and a few minutes later Ali Asad almost found himself at the end of another flowing Sadd move involving himself, Xavi, Bounedjah and Afif but this time the Sadd forward failed to connect Afif’s pass.

Sadd brought in Abdul Karim Hassan and Hassan Al Haydous in place of Hamad Ismael and Ali Asad while Sebastian Soria replaced Daniel Gomou in Rayyan ranks.

Sadd slowly started to tighten the screws and Xavi, Bounedjah, Al Haydous and substitute Jung Woo-Young all had chances to increase the lead.

They were clearly the better side but with Rayyan having players like Tabata and Rivas, the 1-0 scoreline was never safe. And in the 80th  Al Sheeb had to make a crucial save to stop Pedro’s back pass from going into his own net.

But Bounedjah had the final say with a beauty, a fine left-footed finish past Baker after a dazzling run which left Mohammed Sayyar and Viera, who had followed him like a shadow all game, in his wake.

It was the Algerian’s striker’s 48th goal of the season and it was five more than the total Rayyan have managed to score from their league, Amir Cup and the AFDC Champions League campaigns.

Rayyan still had chances as Tabata drew a diving stop from Saad with a curling freekick while Boualem Khoukhi had to make a goalline clearance after Soria had got the better of an advancing Al Sheeb.

But in the end, Sadd proved too strong for Rayyan and it was no surprise at all.