Al Sadd's Hassan Al Haydos (centre) is congratulated by team-mates after he scored a goal against Al Ahli.
A stunning strike from captain Hassan Al Haydos handed Al Sadd a 1-0 victory over Al Ahli in their Week 19 clash of the QNB Stars League (QSL) at Al Janoub Stadium, yesterday.
The victory, which saw the return of coach Xavi Hernandez after recovering from the coronavirus, took third-placed Al Sadd to 38 points, eight points behind leaders Al Duhail and four points behind Al Rayyan.
Al Haydos’ strike came in the 43rd minute after Al Sadd, who started strongly, were denied goals following several attempts. The Al Sadd captain who shot just over the bar in the 25th minute, fired a clinical hit from outside the circle on assist from Hashim Ali, beating Al Ahli goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues with the ball landing on his right corner.
The goal proved decisive keeping Al Sadd in the title hunt mathematically although there is a slim chance for them with just three rounds remaining.
Earlier in the fourth minute, feared Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah created a chance but the move was thwarted by Rodrigues with fine blocking. Al Ahli also posed some threat to Al Sadd with few attacks and were disallowed a goal when Hernan Perez was declared offside after he hit the target in the 12th minute. Perez also missed a chance in the 65th minute after being blocked by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Dossari.
Rodrigo Tabata was also seen in action in the Wolves jersey after he joined Al Sadd last week, replacing Al Haydos and making his presence felt immediately with an attacking approach in the second half.
Al Sadd continued to push for more goals and could have finished with two-goal win but Bounedjah’s goal in the 84th minute was disallowed by the referee.
It was Al Sadd’s second consecutive victory since QSL resumed on July 24 as they defeated Al Khor 2-1 last week.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s second match, Qatar SC and Umm Salal played out a 1-1 draw at Al Sadd Stadium.
After a goalless first half, Kayke Rodrigues put Qatar SC ahead with a goal in the 52nd minute, with Fahd Khalfan levelling the score for Umm Salal on a 72nd minute penalty kick.
The valuable point after the draw put Umm Salal ahead of Al Khor and bottom-placed Al Shahania with 16 points while Qatar SC moved to 9th spot with 18 points. The Week 20 of the QSL will begin on August 6.
