Al Sadd players celebrate after Hassan Al Haydos scored their first goal .
Doha: Seasoned duo of Hassan Al Haydos and Akram Afif scored goals as Al Sadd registered a 2-0 victory against 9-man Qatar SC in the QNB Stars League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.
In a postponed match from Week 8, Al Haydos struck in 45+4 minute while Afif scored in 52nd minute to secure crucial three points for the defending champions. The Wolves moved to 25 points – seven behind leaders Al Duhail, who will face Al Hilal in their first ever AFC Champions League semi-final, today.
Qatar SC were reduced to nine men after Badr Benoun received the marching orders following his second yellow card in 65th minute following a red card to Omar Al Emadi in the 50th minute for back-tackling Pedro Miguel.
Qatar SC remained on 23 points from 14 games following the defeat. Qatar SC, who had begun enthusiastically, were pushed back further and could not match up to the attacking play of Al Sadd, who on their part kept the rivals on the defensive for most part of the match.
Al Sadd had also come close to scoring in the 30th minute of the match when captain Al Haydos struck from a tight angle from the right, but unfortunately for him his kick just went wide of the goal on the far side.
Al Haydos soon made amends in the added time of opening half with a delightful free-kick strike which went over the ‘wall’ and over the jumping players to dip in on the right and also beat a diving Qatar SC goalkeeper Sataa Al Abbasi. Al Sadd then returned from the break with more momentum and more joy was provided for their fans by mercurial forward Akram Afif. Collecting a pass on the right, Afif moved in menacingly to cut past two defenders and send in a rasping shot into the far corner of the net.
Meanwhile, Driss Fettouhi scored a brace with strikes in 35th and 40th minute as Al Markhiya rallied to beat Umm Salal at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium. The Orange Fortress had taken an early lead through a Nasser Al Nasr goal in the fourth minute. In other match, Al Shamal held Al Wakrah to a goalless draw in yesterday’s second match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
QSL Results
Al Sadd bt Qatar SC 2-0
Al Wakrah drew Al Shamal 0-0
Al Markhiya bt Umm Salal 2-1
