Al Sadd's players celebrate after scoring against Sepahan yesterday.
A brace from Qatari national team skipper Hassan Al Haydos and a goal from Akram Afif helped hosts Al Sadd seal a dominant win against Iran's Sepahan in their AFC Champions League encounter yesterday.
The victory at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in front of a large audience of home team supporters, helped Xavi Hernandez-led Wolves to take the top spot in the Group C standings thanks to the goal difference.
Al Sadd and Saudi's Al Nassr both have collected four points each.
On the other hand, Sepahan, who clinched a 4-0 away win against Al Ain, slipped to third position in the four-team group.
Al Sadd made their intentions clear right from kick-off yesterday.
Boualem Khoukhi’s pass put Afif through on goal in the opening 60 seconds, but goalkeeper Payam Niyazmand produced a terrific reflex save to keep out the first of three Al Sadd attempts in the opening six minutes.
The early minutes were promising ones for Xavi’s side, who regularly tested the visiting defence without managing to find the back of the net.
Sepahan captain Mehdi Kiani producing a terrific tackle to stop a breakaway by the Asian Player of the Year Afif in the 18th minute, and Baghdad Bounedjah passing when he ought to have tried his luck shortly after.
Sepahan began to create encouraging openings of their own, but did not have the luck with them. Al Sadd took control as the match went on, with the visitors finding it increasingly difficult to contain their pace and movement.
Bounedjah was denied a chance to score just before the interval, but few minutes later Afif lifting the ball over the goalkeeper after receiving a pass by Bounedjah six minutes after the break.
Al Sadd’s second goal also saw a wonderful exchange between Bounedjah and Al Haydos; the former drilling in an inch perfect low cross, and the latter flicking the ball into the net to double the lead in the 72nd minute.
Al Haydos scored his second goal six minutes later, this time steering the ball into an open net, following an inch-perfect square ball from Afif.
Al Sadd will face Al Ain away on March 3 in their next fixture.
Elsewhere, in Buraidah, the QNB Stars League table leaders Al Duhail lost their Group C away match to Al Taawoun FC 2-0 at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, yesterday.
The result puts Al Taawoun top of the group with six points, while Sharjah’s 2-2 draw with Persepolis in the other fixture means the 2018 quarter-finalists, Al Duhail, stay in second place with three points, while Persepolis are third on one point, ahead of Sharjah courtesy of away goals.
Al Duhail’s next fixture sees them hosting Sharjah in Doha in two weeks’ time.
