Al Sadd's Bagdad Bounedjah (centre) celebrates after scoring one of his three goals during yesterday's El Clasico against Al Rayyan at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
Al Sadd produced an attacking master class to defeat reigning Qatar Stars League champions Al Rayyan 5-0 in the Qatar Clasico yesterday evening.
Al Sadd opened the scoring towards the end of the first half and a further four goals in the second half to pile the misery on Al Rayyan. The tie also saw Algerian striker Bagdad Bounedjah score a hat-trick to confirm his status as the leagues top scorer.
Typically the Clasico started at breakneck speed with Al Rayyan having a early chance to open the scoring, unfortunately Abulrahman Al Harazi, couldn't get the ball out of his feet in time with just one minute on the clock. The hosts Al Rayyan dominated the ball in the early exchanges but lacked that cutting edge despite their flare in the final third.
Al Sadd registered their first chance of note after 23 minutes of the game. Bagdad Bounedjah held the ball up well before laying off his shot to compatriot Jurgitha Hamroun, however the wingers sliced effort flew way over the Rayyan cross bar.
The tie opened midway though the first half and the side exchanged chances. On the 25th minute Rodrigo Tabata produced a textbook freekick which was comfortably saved following Sergio Garcia being bundeled down just outside the box. Sadd also could of opened the scoring a Hamroun cross was flicked on by Bounedjah to Hassan Haydoos and his acrobatic strike was easily caught by Rayyan keeper Omar Barry.
Win five minutes to go in the first half Al Sadd where awarded a penalty. A fierce strike from Xavi was adjudged to have hit Daniel Gomu on the arm and the referee wasted no time in pointing to the penalty spot. Al Sadd’s leader scorer Bagdad Bounedjah was the calmest man in the stadium and coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead.
Al Sadd made a dream start to the second half and promptly doubled their lead after the restart. A fine solo run from Jugurtha Hamroun saw the Algerian race up the left hard side. His cross found Bagdad Bounedjah who tapped in from close range for his second of the game and twelfth of the season.
Willed on by the typically boisterous Qatar Clasico crowd Al Sadd killed off the game thanks to a top class free kick from captain Xavi. Striker Bagdad Bounedjah was fouled just outside the box, Xavi primed himself for the strike and curled the ball into the top corner registering his fourth goal in as many QSL games.
Al Sadd added a fourth goal to confirm their dominance on the 65th minute. Al Sadd where moving the ball with intent in the Rayyan final third, Wolves captain Xavi picked out man of the match contender Hamroun who gracefully chipped the ball past Omar Barry much to the joy of his team-mates.
Al Sadd where at their free flowing best and Bagdad Bounedjah grabbed a hat-trick and his sides fifth of the night to further exert misery on an Al Rayyan side bereft of ideas in defence.
Pedro Corriea knocked the ball up to the Algerian who smashed the ball in to the top right hand corner to confirm the rout.
Earlier, Umm Salal took on in-form Al Gharafa at the Qatar SC Stadium yesterday where the Cheetahs were successful in penetrating the Orange fortress as they went on to win the game 2-0.
