Al Sadd, Al Duhail clinch huge wins

Doha: Title-contenders Al Sadd and Al Duhail yesterday trounced their opponents in fourth round to stay joint top at the QNB Stars League (QSL).

Defending champions Al Sadd scored three goals in the first half and added four more in the second half to thrash Al Shamal 7-2 at the Khalifa International Stadium (KIS). 

Earlier at the same venue, Kenyan forward Michael Olunga scored all five goals as Al Duhail hammered Al Sailiya 5-0. Both teams sit on 12 points with four consecutive wins with identical goal difference.        

Al Sadd opened their account through Assadalla in the 10th minute but Mohsen Al Yazidi canceled the goal Al Shamal two minutes later.

But, The Wolves did not let the promoted side to make a comeback again as Baghdad Bounedjah (13th minute) and Andre Ayew (15th minute) handed Al Sadd a 3-1 lead at half-time. 

An own goal by Matias Nani in the 54th minute extended Al Sadd’s lead before Yousuf Abdurisag (57th minute) and Rodrigo Tabata (85th minutes) did further damage to Al Shamal. 

Khalaf Saad scored Al Shamal’s second goal in 87th minute before Bounedjah completed his brace just a minute before time, sealing an emphatic win for the champions.

Al Sadd's Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates after scoring a goal yesterday.

Earlier at KIS, it was all about Olunga as the Kenyan star wreaked havoc in the second half, smashing goals in 56th, 62nd, 68th, 79th and 85th minutes of the match after a goalless first half.  
Olunga scored his opener for The Red Knights after an assist by Almoez with a powerful shot to the left of keeper Claud Amine.

Six minutes later, Olunga – after being picked up with a clever long ball by Ferjani Sassi – charged ahead of two Al Sailiya defenders, headed the ball past the charging keeper and then clipped the ball into an open net from close range. It was a spectacular charge by Olunga who lifted his team with his second goal of the match with breathtaking speed.

A few minutes later, the Kenyan completed his hat-trick when he tapped a low cross by Mohammed Alaaeldin from close range, sending the ball into the net with ease. Then, Olunga deflected a ball into an open net after a shot by Almoez from close range was blocked by the goalkeeper. The ball landed at Olunga’s feet and he wasted no time in scoring his fourth goal of the match.

A 1-2 by Almoez and Olunga helped the Kenyan striker score his fifth of the evening.

Meanwhile, at the Al Arabi Stadium yesterday, Mehrdad Mohammadi’s goal from a spot-kick in 41st minute and a strike from Aaron Boupendza in 50th minute powered hosts Al Arabi to a 2-0 win over Qatar SC. Following the win, The Dream Team climbed to third in the standings with nine points.