Doha Bank Stars League: Al Sadd Cruise Past Al Shamal 4-1 and Move Provisionally Top

Al Sadd defeated Al Shamal 4-1 in their match today at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Week 8 of the Qatar football league, the Doha Bank Stars League.

Brazil’s Giovani Henrique scored for Al Sadd in the 11th minute, followed by Mali’s Mohamed Camara in the 63rd, Akram Afif in the 68th and Brazil’s Roberto Firmino in the 81st. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez scored Al Shamal’s only goal from a penalty in the 45+7th minute.

Al Sadd raised their tally to 18 points and moved provisionally top, one point ahead of Al Rayyan, who face Al Arabi tomorrow in the same week. Al Shamal remained on nine points and dropped to eighth place.

The match was exciting from the outset, with Al Shamal creating the first early threat through a Baghdad Bounedjah shot saved by the goalkeeper in the sixth minute. Al Sadd responded with an effort from Brazil’s Paulo Otavio that passed beside the post in the eighth minute.

Al Sadd opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Akram Afif delivered a precise pass to Brazil’s Giovani Henrique, who directed the ball into the net.

Al Shamal almost equalised quickly through Baghdad Bounedjah, who struck a powerful shot following a pass from Tunisia’s Mohamed Ben Romdhane. Pedro Miguel cleared the ball before it crossed the goal line in the 16th minute.

Brazil’s Roberto Firmino missed a clear opportunity to extend Al Sadd’s lead after Akram Afif put him through with an empty goal ahead, but his shot struck defender Abdulkarim Hassan in the 28th minute. The referee then disallowed a Giovani Henrique goal from an Akram Afif pass for offside in the 38th minute.

In the final minute of the first half, the referee showed Al Shamal’s Mohamed Ben Romdhane a red card after reviewing the incident with the video assistant referee (VAR). The dismissal followed his forceful challenge on Pedro Miguel, leaving Al Shamal to complete the match with 10 players.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Al Shamal won a penalty after Paulo Otavio brought down Bounedjah. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez converted the spot kick in the 45+7th minute to end the first half level at 1-1.

Al Sadd began the second half on the attack and Giovani Henrique scored following a pass from fellow Brazilian Firmino, but the referee ruled the goal out for offside in the 47th minute. The crossbar then denied Yousef Abdulrazaq after Al Shamal goalkeeper Babacar Seck mishandled his effort in the 54th minute.

Al Sadd’s pressure produced the second goal when Mali’s Mohamed Camara drove forward, beat a defender and struck a powerful shot beyond the goalkeeper in the 63rd minute. Akram Afif added the third in the 68th minute after receiving a pass from Brazil’s Claudinho, advancing towards goal and placing the ball into the net.

Despite Al Shamal’s attempts to return to the match, Al Sadd scored their fourth through Brazil’s Roberto Firmino, who converted an Akram Afif pass in the 81st minute.

The final minutes brought no change to the score as Al Sadd completed a commanding 4-1 victory, moving provisionally top of the standings by one point over Al Rayyan.

Source: QNA

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