Doha: Feared striker Akram Afif scored a brace as leaders Al Sadd extended their unbeaten run with a 2-0 win over Al Sailiya in the QNB Stars League (QSL) at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.
The reigning champions now have 31 points after 11 matches, six more than second-placed Al Duhail. Al Sailiya, meanwhile, stayed bottom with just five points.
Afif’s first goal came in the 42nd minute after Andre Ayew was brought down and the resulting penalty was converted by the Qatari star. Afif doubled the lead in the 61st minute as he swept in a pass from substitute Baghdad Bounedjah.
Al Sadd’s goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham was delighted with the victory. “We performed well against Al Sailiya and succeeded in achieving an important and exciting victory. We struggled a bit in first half but once we scored the opener we had opportunities to score more,” he said.
Barsham said there was no big difference in Sadd’s playing style since Javi Gracia replaced fellow Spaniard Xavi Hernandez as the coach. “There is no big change in the way we play with the new coach. We play almost in the same style, strategy and personality, but there are some simple things that the coach is keen to emphasise in every match,” the goalkeeper said.
Also yesterday, Al Gharafa rallied from a goal down to beat Al Shamal 3-2 at Al Ahli Stadium. After Jeison Medina (35’) put Al Shamal ahead, Al Gharafa fought back through a goal by Amro Surag (41’), with Gabriel Pires (78’) and Sofiane Hanni (81’) also scoring for The Cheetahs.
Amjad Attwan (90+3) then scored for Al Shamal but it was too late to make a comeback for his side.
Al Gharafa climbed to third spot with 22 points after the win while Al Shamal are on 10th position with nine points.
Later at the same venue, Abdulrasheed Umaru’s strike in 57th proved enough to give hosts Al Ahli winning points against Qatar SC after a 1-0 win. Al Ahli are ninth with 12 points while Qatar SC are seventh on a better goal difference.
Results
Al Sadd beat Al Sailiya 2-0
Al Gharafa beat Al Shamal 3-2
Al Ahli beat Qatar SC 1-0
