Qatar Cup: Al Sadd fight back to beat Al Rayyan 4-1

DOHA: Al Sadd fought back a goal down to beat Al Rayyan 4-1 in the second semifinal of Qatar Cup on Saturday to set up a date with Al Duhail in the final. 

Duhail had beaten Al Sailiya 2-1 in the first semifinal on Friday. 

It was a sweet revenge for Sadd, who had lost to Rayyan 4-2 in the Qatar Stars League (QSL) two months ago. 

Mowafak Awad had put Rayyan into the lead in 15th minute, but Sadd regrouped themselves to bounce back into the match.

Boulaem Khoukhi equalised in the 38th minute, and four minutes later 2019 AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif added the second to put Sadd in a commanding position.

Salem Al Hajri scored the third in the 54th minute while an own-goal by Rayyan defender Gabriel Mercado in the 68th meant put the contest beyond their reach. 

Sadd's performance will bring back the smiles back on their fans, who had hoped them to do well in last month's FIFA Club World Cup and QSL, where they are the reigning champions.  

The Xavi Hernandez-coached side are third on the table (21 points) behind Duhail (30) and Rayyan (28). 

Sadd would require a great effort to catch up Duhail, whom they face in the final next Friday. 

If their performance was any yardstick then Sadd, who showed a controlled aggression, might as well overtake the current league leaders.  

But Xavi would want to see his men to be more consistent, and a victory in the four-team tournament should be an ideal way to restart their league campaign. 

The team showed a lot of grit and determination even after Rayyan's Mowafak shot home a rebound following a faulty clearance by goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari.

In between, Sadd had a goal disallowed through VAR in the 18th minute when Baghdad Bounedjah put home a rebound following a Hassan Al Haidous shot.

But Khoukhi levelled the score by heading Nam Tae-Hee corner while man of the match Akram netted the second following an assist from Nam.

Al Hajri beat off the challenge from Mowafak before slotting home a measured cross from the right by Al Haidous.

Sadly for Rayyan, Brahimi, current top-scorer in the QSL with 10 goals, could not make much of an impact as Sadd walked off with an impressive win that would boost their confidence before the finall.