Al Sadd's Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah (centre) controls the ball during the Emir Cup semi-final against Lekhwiya at Al Sadd Stadium. Al Sadd booked a place in the final with a 2-0 win over El Jaish. Picture Baher Amin/The Peninsula
Two goals in the second half kept Al Sadd on track of picking up a season double as the Wolves booked a place in the final of the Emir Cup with a 2-0 win over El Jaish at Al Sadd Stadium.
Baghdad Bounedjah gave Al Sadd the lead in the 47th minute and Hassan Al Haydos added the second one in the 76th minute to set up title clash with Al Rayyan.
At half time, both the teams were locked goalless.
Both teams had their share of chances in the first half, but could not trouble the scorers.
In the 24th minute, El Jaish came up with a threatening move but luck failed to be on their side.
El Jaish’s Seydou Keita saw his volley from the edge of the box flying inches over the cross bar.
The Armymen kept up the pressure and Brazilian Romarinho, who scored crucial goals in the earlier matches, essayed a threatening goal bound shot which failed to find its target.
At the other end, Al Sadd, with many of their moves plotted by former Barcelona legend Xavi, opened the defense a few times but failed get the decisive goal.
In the second half, Al Sadd hardly took time to settle down. The Wolves scored three minutes into the second session.
Bounedjah, who scored four goals in Al Sadd’s convincing 4-1-win over Al Kharaitiyat in the quarter-finals, live up to the expectations of his fans by delivering the knockout punch.
The 25-year old volleyed home from the edge of the box to beat El Jaish keeper Khalifa Ababacar N'Diaye's outstretched hands to give Al Sadd the lead.
Thereafter El Jaish pressed the panic button, pushing Al Sadd on the defensive.
In the 69th minute, both the teams introduced one fresh player in a tactical move.
El Jaish were determined to find the equaliser while Al Sadd were content in holding on to the one-goal lead.
Coach Jesulado Ferreira’s team increased the lead much against the run of play.
With El Jaish going all out for the equaliser, Al Sadd consolidated the lead off a counter attack.
Al Haydos scored in the 76th minute to make it 2-0 and take the game completely away from El Jaish.
On Saturday, Al Rayyan made it to the May 19 final at the Khalifa Stadium with a 3-1 win over defending champions and Qatar Stars League winners Lekhwiya.
Brazil-born Rodrigo Tabata played a key role for Al Rayyan scoring two goals and one setting up one.
Al Sadd, who have won the Qatar Cup will be looking for their second title of the season while Al Rayyan will be looking for their maiden silverware of the season.
With both Lekhwiya and El Jaish losing in the semi-finals, football fans in Qatar have seen the last of the two QSL clubs as the two are being merged to form a new club 'Duhail', which will feature in next season’s QSL.
We changed our tactics in second half, says Al Haydos
Star striker Hassan Al Haydos yesterday said team coach Jesualdo Ferreira brought a swift change in tactics at the start of the second half that saw Al Sadd beat El Jaish 2-0 and reach the Emir Cup final.
Spectacular goals by strikers Baghdad Bounedjah and Al Haydos helped former champions Al Sadd produce a slick win over El Jaish as the Doha football giants sealed their Emir Cup final berth in convincing fashion.
Following a goalless first half, Algerian striker Bounedjah scored the opening goal in the 47th minute while Al Haydos doubled Al Sadd's home delight by firing the second goal in the 76th minute.
"The first half was really bad. The coach addressed our problems we faced in the first half and then he told us not to go for long passes and told us to stick to short passes," Al Haydos said after the game at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
"He told us that so that we could cut the running distances," he said.
"The early goal (by Bounedjah) really turned things around for us. That goal lifted us. The first half was scratchy. Both teams were equal. Maybe there was too much of respect between the two sides," he said.
"That's what we did and when we got the second goal, we knew things were under control," Al Haydos said with a smile.
"I want to congratulate the Al Sadd family including the technical set-up and the backroom staff. This is a gift to them and the club fans. Now we are in the Emir Cup final. We are waiting for the final now," he said.
