Al Sadd's Akram Afif (left) controls the ball.
Doha, Qatar: Akram Afif scored a goal and provided an assist as defending champions Al Sadd thumped Al Gharafa 4-1 to maintain their perfect start to the Qatar Stars League and open up a two-point lead at the top with a third straight victory.
Al Duhail, meanwhile, bounced back against Al Rayyan to earn a 1-1 draw and a point in the other match yesterday. Al Rayyan are now level with second-placed Al Shamal on seven points, while the draw took Al Duhail to five points in fifth place.
Al Sadd, who defeated Al Gharafa 2-1 in the Qatar Cup semi-final last week, made a flying start, taking the lead in the fifth minute through Yusuf Abdurisag at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Afif picked out Roberto Firmino on the left and the Brazilian delivered a precise cross from inside the box, with Abdurisag tapping the ball past a diving Khalifa Ababacar from close range.
Al Gharafa responded through Ferjani Sassi, whose header was comfortably saved by Meshaal Barsham.
Al Duhail's Tahsin Mohammed (right) shoots to score the equaliser against Al Rayyan.
Afif then turned provider again, sending a clever lob towards Claudinho, who produced a fine volley to double Al Sadd’s lead in the 12th minute.
Al Sadd resumed the second half in similar fashion and came close to adding a third when Hashim Ali’s low effort towards the right corner was kept out by defender Ayoub Al-Oui.
Afif eventually got his goal with a fine solo effort, storming into the box after getting past two defenders before calmly slotting a low shot into the net.
Yacine Brahimi pulled one back for Al Gharafa in the 82nd minute, but Firmino sealed Al Sadd’s victory in stoppage time, finishing from Boualem Khoukhi’s assist.
“The start of the season has been very successful, with three wins in the league and a victory in the Qatar Cup. InshaAllah, it will be an exceptional season for us,” Al Sadd defender Tarek Salman said after the win.
“Despite the injuries we are dealing with, the team is performing well. We hope to maintain this level, continue improving and achieve more victories.”
Following their second successive defeat, Pedro Martin’s Al Gharafa slipped to ninth with three points.
Earlier at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Roger Guedes put Al Rayyan ahead in the fifth minute, volleying Jassim Gabir’s header from close range following a corner.
Al Duhail were forced into an early change when Edmilson Junior went off injured in the 10th minute, with Mobarak Shanan replacing the forward.
Mahmoud Abunada denied Sekou Yansane late in the first half to preserve Al Rayyan’s lead, but Al Duhail found the equaliser in the 72nd minute.
Almoez Ali carried the ball down the left before his attempted pass deflected off David Garcia and fell to substitute Tahsin Mohammed, who made no mistake from the edge of the box, sending a precise effort into the left corner.
