Al Sadd, Umm Salal begin with wins
DOHA: Al Sadd got their new QSL season off to a winning start with a commanding 4-0 win over Al Kharaitiyat at the Al Sadd Stadium.
Al Sadd controlled the game from kick off, largely thanks to their talisman and captain Xavi Hernandez who took a leading role in midfield from the first whistle. Sadd broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when Xavi delivered a pin-point pass to find Algerian Bagdad Bounedjah, who controlled the ball on his chest before driving it into the back of the net.
Al Kharatiyat went into half-time trailing 1-0 but came out strong in the opening minutes of the second half, having a goal disallowed after just two minutes when striker Jeremy Bokila was deemed offside after poking home from six yards out.
Sadd continued to control the game and on the 62nd minute, new summer signing Jugurtha Hamroun delivered a fine ball to Qatar’s national team captain Hasan Al Haydoos, who calmly took it around Al Kharatiyat’s goalkeeper to make it 2-0.
Just a minute later, Al Sadd nearly made it three after Al Kharatiyat’s goalkeeper was forced to make a fingertip save after another pin-point delivery from Xavi which found the head of Ibrahim Majed.
Al Sadd made sure of all three points after a fine solo goal from Ali Asad which saw him drive an 18 yard shot into the roof of the net on the 77th minute mark.
They rounded off a compelling performance after debutant Hossam Kamal set up Bounedjah in the 92nd minute for his second goal to round off a fine opening day win for Al Sadd.
Earlier, goals either side of half time and some last-minute heroics from goalkeeper Baba Malick helped Umm Salal beat Al Khor 2-1.
Yannick Sagbo put Umm Salal ahead in the 30th minute while Mouhcine Iajour equalised in the 55th. Ismail Mohammed then found the target for Umm Salal in the 66th and it turned out to be the winner.
