Al Sadd's players celebrate with Hashim Ali (left).
Former champions Al Sadd yesterday went on goal scoring spree to crush Al Ahli 7-1 in their fifth game of the QNB Stars League (QSL), climbing to the top of the standings.
The big win at the Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium was powered by a brilliant double by Hashim Ali (5', 36') and goals from Rodrigo Tabata (12'), Akram Afif (30'), Santi Cazorla (45'), Nam Tae-hee (58') and Ahmed Sayyar (91'). Al Ahli’s goal was scored by Nabil El Zhar (54').
Yesterday’s win lifted the Wolves’ point tally to 13 as they overtook Al Ahli, who were unbeaten before the Round 5 encounter. Al Ahli now occupy the second spot with four wins and 12 points.
Al Sadd have shown dominant form this season and they are the only unbeaten team in the League so far.
Their four-win record includes two big victories before yesterday’s 7-1 thumping of Al Ahli.
They beat Al Sailiya and Al Kharaitiyat in similar margins of 5-1 and went on to overcome the reigning champions Al Duhail 3-1 in the third round before sharing points with Al Khor.
Yesterday, Hashim gave a dream start to the Wolves as he curled the ball into the far corner just five minute into the game. It was the 20-year-old’s first goal of the season.
Tabata, who is having a brilliant season with his new team, doubled the lead, seven minutes later.
Spaniard Cazorla got a touch to Hashim’s cross from the right, but the ball fell to Tabata who made no mistake from just outside the six-yard box.
The AFC Player-of-the-Year, Afif made it 3-0 in the 30th minute after receiving a long ball from his Qatar team-mate Khoukhi as the charismatic striker got past the advancing Al Ahli goalkeeper to crisp finish.
Hashim then scored his second goal of the match after receiving a through ball from Cazorla.
The Spanish star made it 5-0 right before halftime. Afif’s low cross from the left was deflected onto Cazorla’s path by Hashim, and the Spaniard scored with a powerful shot into the top corner to give the Wolves a commanding lead.
Upon resumption, Al Ahli opened the goal account through El Zhar who headed into an empty goal. South Korean Tae-hee restored Al Sadd’s five-goal advantage.
Substitute Sayyar finished off by making it 7-1 after receiving a pass from Akram inside the box and calmly finishing past the keeper to send Xavi-Hernandez-coached side to the top of the QSL standings.
In the day’s second match, holders Al Duhail overcame Al Rayyan 2-1 thanks to an injury-time goal by Iranian international Ramin Rezaeian (93’). At Thani Bin Jassim Stadium, Al Rayyan had taken the lead through a goal by Yaccine Brahimi before Dudu levelled the scored in the 68th minute off a penalty kick.
