DOHA: Doha giants Al Sadd yesterday rallied for an impressive 3-2 victory against Al Sailiya in their round 24 clash in the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
Trailing by two goals in the first 44 minutes, Al Sadd probably played their best football yesterday when they fired three goals in the space of 25 minutes at Al Ahli Stadium.
Faouzi Aaish (28 and 44) scored two goals for Al Sailiyah but Al Sadd hit back through Hassan Al Haydos (46), Baghdad Bounedjah (49) and Morteza Mohammadjan (70) for their 13th win of the season.
Al Sadd are now in second spot with 45 points. Al Rayyan, the QSl champions, have 61 points from 24 matches. Third-placed El Jaish have 44 points from 24 matches.
Lekhwiya, placed fourth, have 41 points from 24 games.
Following a cagey start in the first 11 minutes of the match. Al Sailiya’s Abdulkareem Al Ali brought down Ali Asad in the 12th minute. Referee Saoud Ali Athba quickly punished Ali with a yellow card.
Moments later, the game picked up with both teams battling for ball possession.
After a few fruitless exchanges, Al Sailiya stunned Al Sadd by taking the lead through a penalty that left Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira red-faced.
Al Sadd’s Pedro Miguel brought down Al Sailiya’s Carlos Alberto close to the goalpost, an infringement that was enough for referee Athba to point to the penalty spot.
Al Sailiya striker Aaish calmly put the ball into the Al Sadd net as goalkeeper Muhannad Naim Hussein dived the wrong way to his right.
In the 35th minute, Aaish unleashed a ferocious shot from the edge of the box following a goalmouth melee, but Al Sadd goalkeeper Hussein this time punched the ball up in the air before pouching it safely.
Five minutes from the first-half whistle, Al Sailiya’s Omer Ibrahim Hamad wasted an easy opportunity to convert into a goal when goalkeeper Hussein produced a well-timed body save.
A minute later, the scoreboard read 2-0 after Aaish found the back of the net for the second time off a penalty kick.
Seconds earlier Aaish clipped a pass to his player inside the box but Al Sadd defender Pedro seemingly ‘deliberately’ poked his elbow out to stop the ball.
Referee Al Athba, positioned a few feet away, pointed to the penalty which was easily converted into a goal by Aaish.
In injury time, Al Sadd reduced the deficit after striker Al Haydos chipped the ball above the Al Sailiyah goalkeeper Diranth following a neat through pass from the center.
Soon after the resumption, Al Sadd drew level with Al Sailiyah after Baghdad fired one home in the 49th minute after being assisted by Xavi.
Al Sadd took the lead for the first time in the 70th minute. Captain Xavi curled in a beautifully-taken corner kick which was headed home by Mohammadjan by jumping high in the air.
In another match, Umm Salal edged Al Arabi 1-0. The Peninsula
