Doha: Former champions Al Sadd stormed to a 4-1 win over Al Wakrah in the Round 3 match of the Qatar Stars League, while an own goal by Mesaimeer was enough for Al Sailiya to claim their first victory of the season.
The first half was a tight affair with the Wolves having to wait until the 31st minute to break the deadlock. In the second as Wakrah chased the game Sadd finished them off with three further goals. Al Haydous and Xavi were once more the stand out players for Sadd.
However it was Wakrah that had the first real chance of the game.
For all of Sadd’s possession Wakrah had the more dangerous chances as they broke on the counter attack.
Al Khil should have done better for the Blues when his volley lacked accuracy from close range in the 12th minute.
The first goal of the night came after a scheduled water break for the players, it seemed however that after the restart the Blues had switched off and from the corner Muriqui stole away to the back post, his header however struck the bar and rebounded in fortuitously off teammate AbdulKarim in the 31st minute.
Sadd got into their groove and looked dangerous with every attack. But despite Khalfan and Belhadj going close Wakrah managed to get to half time only one goal down.
In the second half the game opened up as both sides tried to break quickly when the chance arose.
The second goal came as Xavi spun his man in the centre of the park, the Spaniard was fouled in the process but the referee played the advantage.
Muriqui saw the run of Belhadj down the left and set him free with a great forward pass, the on-rushing Wakrah keeper came out of his box but Belhadj simply rounded him and slotted home Sadd’s second of the night one hour into the match.
At this point Wakrah’s defensive instincts left them completely as they pushed more players forward.
The gaps that were left by Wakrah were clinically exploited as Muriqui then got on the score sheet with his shot hitting the upright and bouncing in 68th minute
Wakrah finally got a penalty on the 82nd minute when substitute Maher was brought down by Abdulkarim; Sabastian Saez stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way and scored.
However Al Sadd quickly replied with yet another goal as Ali Sadd weaved through the Blue’s defence before unleashing a snap shot, keeper Enyas saved it but could do little as Muriqui pounced for his second of the night from close range with five minutes to go for the final whistle.
At Al Arabi Stadium, an own goal by Mesaimeer was enough for Al Sailiya to claim their first victory of the season, the Peregrines had to wait until the second half and before the goal, neither side looked likely to break the deadlock.
Before this match Sailiya had lost heavily with a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of both Rayyan and El Jaish.
For QSL rookies Mesaimeer, they too had lost both matches leading up to Round three and with both teams finding it difficult to come by any goals, tonight was always going to a night of few chances.
Being that the match was an early kick off; the heat had yet to subside and meant that there was a slow tempo to the game.
The first half was a frustrating affair for both players and fans as no real chances of note were registered by either side.
In the second half the game opened up and Sailiya slowly but surely started to take a hold of the game.
The only goal of the game came when a cross from the right, was missed by A Sailiya’s forward, the Mesaimeer defender who was on the goal line had little time to react as the ball went over the line for an own goal in the 62nd minute.
It was hard to swallow as the Torches had done well to soak up the pressure and looked as though they might have gotten their first point of the season, but it was not to be.
Meanwhile, Al Rayyan remain top of the table after conclusive 3-1 win over Umm Salal.
The Peninsula
