HIGH FIVE!
IT WAS a carnage, a humiliation for the once mighty Al Arabi, it was Al Sadd announcing their title intentions in emphatic fashion after a brief period of disarray, it was history in the making and it was a goal fest. But above all, it was a Baghdad Bounedjah show.
The Algerian striker joined an illustrious group, which includes Lionel Messi, Radamel Falcao, Oleg Salenko and Alen Shearer, when he scored five goals in their 7-0 victory against a hapless Arabi.
While his show helped Sadd (50 points) leapfrog Lekhwiya on goal difference as league leaders, Baghdad equalled Cops striker Youssef El Arabi’s tally of 21 at the top of scoring charts.
With 65 goals each to their credit, both Sadd and Lekhwiya are likely to surpass Al Gharafa’s record tally of 72 in the 2007-08 season while El Arabi and Baghdad have Clemerson Soares, who blasted 27 for Gharafa the same year, in sight.
Baghdad, Sadd’s most potent weapon, has not had a great 2017 until last week. He had only two goals in his last eight appearances for both club and country, and uncharacteristically got marching orders, his second ever, in a recent 1-1 draw against Al Shahaniya, a result that threatened to derail Sadd’s campaign.
But now, Baghdad has got his mojo back, and in some style.
Sadd opened their account in the fifth minute through Morteza Mohammed following an error from Rajab Hamza, but Baghdad soon took over.
His first goal came in the 28th and it was gift-wrapped and delivered to him on a platter by his strike partner Hassan Al Haidous.
The Qatar international controlled a long pass from Xavi on the right flank and delivered a delicious diagonal ball that dissected Arabi’s central defender Moustapha Sall and an advancing Hamza, leaving Baghdad with the simplest task of walking it into the net.
Barely 10 minutes later, it was 3-0 for Sadd and two for Baghdad. The tall, powerful striker showed his tenacity as he held off Sall’s challenge to connect a fine cross from Jugurtha Hamroun on the left, leaving Hamza helpless again.
More embarrassment was in store for Hamza as Baghdad beat him from the spot with a panenka on the stroke of half-time to complete his hat-trick.
Though Sadd looked like having taken their foot off the pedal for a while in the second half, there was not much change in the script, with Baghdad increasing his tally to four in the 79th with his best goal of the game.
After picking up a through ball from Xavi, who was given plenty of time and space in the midfield to weave his magic, Baghdad took a couple of stepovers in front of a retreating Omar Al Emadi and buried a left-footer to the left of Hamza.
It was becoming too easy for Sadd and too embarrassing for Arabi as Khalfan Ibrahim, who came on for Al Haidous in the 61st, scored in the 80th, directing his header from close range into an empty net.
Baghdad still had time for more, his powerful shot from inside the area finding the right bottom corner in the 83rd.
Arabi had a chance for a consolation goal, but Luis Jimenez blasted his penalty wide in the dying moments.
“I’m happy for Bounedjah, it was a good performance by him. He’s now at the top of scoring chart along with Lekhwiya’s Youssef El Arabi and I hope he can win the top-scorer award,” said Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira, who believes they still have scope for improvement. “We’re in a strong position now, but I just hope our players stay free from injuries as we challenge for the title.”
With five rounds to go and little to choose between Sadd and Lekhwiya as well as their top marksmen Baghdad and El Arabi, who all are chasing glory, the stage is all set for a grandstand finish.