Al Sadd captain Xavi (centre), winger Abdulkarem Hasan (second right) and striker Baghdad Bounedjah (right) during a team's training session, in this file photo.
DOHA: Former champions Al Sadd will be looking to carry their rich goal-scoring form into their AFC Champions League semi-final against Iranian giants Persepolis in the first leg to be played at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium tomorrow.
Last week Al Sadd - the 2011 AFC Champions League winners - crushed Al Rayyan 5-1 in their ‘Qatar Clasico’ clash and then followed the impressive show with another resounding win over Qatar SC winning the match with a 5-1 scorecard on Thursday.
Feared Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah has scored three goals last week while fast-improving winger Akram Afif - who is proving to be a terror for rivals in the QNB Stars League matches - scored a goal each against Al Rayyan and Qatar SC.
“I am satisfied to see the team continue winning both in Asia and domestically and not waste points. At Al Sadd, we have a strong squad and I am reassured by the team’s performances until now,” team coach Jesualdo Ferreira said after Al Sadd beat Qatar SC 5-1 at Suheim BIn Hamad Stadium.
“It is very important for us to have a strong strike force, as we have a crucial game coming up in the AFC Champions League. We should work towards scoring a big number of goals in the first leg, so that it can be of benefit in the second leg in Tehran,” the experience Portuguese added.
After watching Al Sadd take a commanding 3-0 lead by the 29th minute, Ferreira said he even asked his players save their energy for tomorrow’s crucial match.
“(When) we scored three goals, I asked the players to slow down the tempo of the game to endure through the game,” Ferreira said.
“The temperature was very high, but the Al Sadd players were very impressive,” he added.
Afif, the 21-year-old left winger, has been the talk of the season so far. The Aspire Academy graduate has pumped in eight goals in Al Sadd’s six QNB Stars League matches, only second behind team-mate Bounedjah who has a tally of 14.
“I am very happy with my success in the scoring, which was done with the help of my staff and my team,” Afif said earlier in the week.
“My performance in the AFC Champions League is improving in every game and I’m always trying to do my best,” he added.
Afif said Al Sadd is thrilled to be in the semi-finals of the ACL.
“We are happy to have reached the semi-finals though we had a tough time playing against Estaghlal,” he said. “Despite not having the full strength of players, we managed well and maintained top level in both legs,” he said.
“We are now fully concentrating on our clash against Persepolis,” Afif said.
“We will continue to work hard to make our fans happy. Our goal is to do our best in every game we play,” Afif said.
Two weeks ago, a slick penalty in injury time by Bounedjah sealed Al Sadd’s passage to the ACL semi-finals after a thrilling encounter with Iran’s Esteghlal.
Al Sadd, a two-time winners of the Asian club championship, drew 2-2 against Esteghlal to complete a 5-3 win on aggregate at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Al Sadd arrived for the return leg on home soil with a 3-1 cushion having beaten their Iranian rivals in the first leg at Azadi Stadium.
Al Sadd’s goals were scored by Afif (27) and Bounedjah (90 + 2). Esteghlal, who played most part of the second half with 10 men, were lifted by goals by Rouhollah Bagheri (32) and Morteza Tabrizi (49).
“It feels great to have reached the semi-finals of this prestigious championship,” regular skipper Hassan Al Haydos, who is uncertain for tomorrow’s clash, said after Al Sadd sealed their semis berth.
“We have worked extremely hard to reach thus far. The players have put in great efforts all through the AFC Champions League so far,” he added.
“I want to say ‘well done’ to the players and want to thank the fans for their support,” Al Haydos said.
The match kicks off at 6:15 pm at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Al Sadd will travel to Tehran for the away fixture at the Azadi Stadium on October 23.
