Al Sadd SC's Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah shoots to score while Al Kharaitiyat skipper Pejman Mohammadreza tries to spoil his effort during their Amir Cup Round of 16 match played at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Pictures: Hus
Defending champions Al Duhail and Al Sadd marched into the quarter-finals of Amir Cup 2020 after registering commanding victories in their Round of 16 games at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, yesterday.
Al Duhail gave new coach Walid Regragui his first victory in Qatar with a 4-0 thumping over second division side Muaither SC, while Al Sadd thrashed Al Kharaitiyat 3-1 to advance to the elite tournament without much resistance.
Muaither SC did well in the beginning to hold Al Duhail but once the reigning champions found the opener, it was almost difficult to stop them.
Al Duhail’s North Korean star Han Kwang Song scored the opening goal in 42 minute, and scored his second just a couple of minutes later before Qatari star Almoez Ali scored in first minute of injury time (45+1) – the third goal for the Red Knights within a span of five minutes.
Qatari star Mohammed Muntari added another goal for Regragui’s side in the 69th minute to seal the big victory.
Earlier, in the first game, star forward Baghdad Bounedjah fired a brace to steer Al Sadd to win over Al Kharaitiyat after 2018 Asian Player of the Year Abdelkarim Hassan powered Wolves ahead in the first minute.
Al Sadd, however suffered an injury blow during the win, with midfielder Salem Al Hajri, going out of action for an indefinite period after suffering from an Achilles tear.
“Salem will be absent for a long time. The season is over for him. We will miss him a lot, especially as he was helping the team in a big way,” Al Sadd coach Xavi said after the match yesterday.
Speaking on the win, the Spaniard said: “I’m happy to win and qualify (for the quarter-finals) after playing a very difficult match against Al Kharaitiyat. We faced an organised team and I congratulate them on their performance. We played a good match.”
“We made some changes in the team, with our thoughts on the upcoming Champions League game. It was possible to score more goals, but after the third goal, we clinched the game in our favour,” he added.
Al Sadd were in business right from the word go, with Hassan heading one of the quickest goals in tournament’s history after a brilliant cross from Hashim Ali.
Al Kharaitiyat, too created their chances in the start and won a spot kick in the 14th minute after a foul by Hamed Ismail in the box. But Rachid Tiberkanine wasted the chance with his strike hitting the post.
However, six minutes later, Tiberkanine found the target off a free-kick from the edge of the box.
The reigning QNB Stars League champions, Al Sadd did not lose much time in regaining their lead and scored their second goal through Bounedjah in 25th minute. The Algerian striker fired his side ahead with a header past Al Kharaitiyat keeper Shehab Mamdouh after Ali Asad deftly lifted the ball into the box.
Xavi’s men went to the half-time with a 2-1 lead, and returned to score another in the second session.
Right after the break, Al Hajri thought he scored for Al Sadd in the 48th minute but the referee ruled the effort out for a foul in the build up, after a VAR review.
Midway through the second half, Al Sadd coach Xavi brought on Nam Tae-hee and Akram Afif, in place of Abdulaziz Al Ansari and Yasir Abubakar.
The coach’s move paid dividend and Al Sadd managed to extend their lead in the 82nd minute when Bounedjah scored from a close range after Afif’s cross.
In today’s Round of 16 games, Al Shahania will face Wakrah while Al Ahli will take on Qatar SC. Both the matches will be played at Grand Hamad Stadium.
