Warner and Abbott ruled out of Boxing Day Test against India PAGE 14 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2020 Bounedjah strikes late in ‘Clasico’ to ensure Al Sadd’s winning streak TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA FORMER France coach Lau- rent Blanc’s fears came true as he suffered to a defeat in his first game as coach of Al Rayyan who succumbed to a late goal in the Qatar Clasico clash of the QNB Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Sta- dium on Wednesday. With both sides locked goal- less and the clock ticking away, Algerian Bounedjah Baghdad did the star turn for Xavi Her- nandez’s Wolves scoring in the 83rd minute to fetch Al Sadd’s ninth win in a row in the league and tenth including their Amir Cup triumph last Friday. The win keeps Al Sadd on top of the table with 28 points from ten games while Al Rayyan were sixth with 13 points. Former Al Sadd player and Barcelona legend Xavi thanked his team’s fans for the win. “It was a difficult confrontation and we were better than Al Baghdad Bounedjah is greeted by Spaniard Santi Cazorla and other Rayyan. I thank the team’s fans Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah looks back after scoring in the 83rd minute against Al Rayyan in the ‘Qatar Clasico’ clash of the QNB Stars teammates after he scored in the ‘Qatar Clasico’ against Al Rayyan for their continuous support,” League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday. at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday. he said post match. “We are in our best mo- ments. We are training well and presenting great levels in the matches. We achieved a deserved victory and moved away in the lead by 7 points from the closest competi- tors, and we must continue to present the best in the next matches,” he added. Goal-scorer Bounedjah said, “Persistence led us to victory over Al Rayyan and the most important three points to stay.” The two teams kicked off the proceedings at a fast pace in marquee clash between the tra- ditional rivals. Al Sadd attackers kept Rayyan defenders busy, but the latter remained strong to thwart the moves through Dame Traori and Gabriel Mer- Al Sadd coach Xavi Hernandez greets his Al Rayyan counterpart and former France coach Laurent Blance cado who, on one occasion, Al Sadd fans celebrate the goal at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday. soon after the match. stopped Al Sadd’s Akram Afif prowling with the ball on the the box, Akram fired a shot, but deflection from close range nar- half, Abdulaziz Hatem found flicked a short cross to a team- In the 62nd minute, Afif Rayyan goalmouth. Bounedjah edge of the box. Al Rayyan keeper Fahad Younis rowly missed the mark as the Ivorian striker Boli inside the Al mate, but ever-present Mer- received a near-perfect cross jumped high, but his deflection Blanc’s side also attacked blocked the shot with his legs. ball landed on the top of the net. Sadd box, but his deflection flew cado used a backheel to block from Al Haydous, but the star went tad wide of a goalpost. Al Sadd backline though none A minute before the half- In the 36th minute, above the crossbar from close the move. forward’s powerful drive from Seven minutes from time, of those moves could get them hour mark, Bounedjah man- Ahmed Abdelmaqsoud pro- range. Al Rayyan’s Hatim – af- Close to the hour-mark, Al inside the box was blocked by Al Akram slipped in a short cross close to Al Sadd keeper Me- aged to avoid a yellow card with duced a loopy cross from far, ter sneaking into the Al sad box Sadd coach Xavi opted for dou- Rayyan’s agile keeper. for Cazorla who picked out shaal Barsham in the first six a rough tackle on Mercado. but the Al Sadd goalkeeper – fired a bullet but his shot was ble substitution and benched Three minutes later, for- Bounedjah close to the goal. minutes. In the 13th minute, In the 34th minute, defender charged out of the box to head pouched by keeper Barsham. Tabata, and brought in influen- mer Arsenal midfielder Ca- The ever-alert Algerian smart- Akram hared away with the ball Boualem Khoukhi jumped high the ball away despite the pres- Six minutes into the second tial Hassan Al Haydous along zorla clipped in a neat cross ly flicked the ball into the net despite given chase by two Al for a snap-header off a free-kick ence of Yacine Brahimi. half, Al Sadd’s Bounedjah broke with Jung Woo-Young, in place for Bounedjah, stationed per- for the only goal of the mar- Rayyan markers. As he entered by Rodrigo Tabata. Khoukhi’s Towards the close of first into the Al Rayyan box and of Musab Khadir. fectly for a header close to the Al quee clash. Youcef Belaili excels with three penalty kicks for Qatar SC TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK matched them once they settled players ended with Mehrdad’s swung and dipped into the far DOHA into their stride. weak header going a little way- right of the keeper. Okpotu, Qatar SC’s spear- ward on a cross from Fathy on In the 51st minute, after IN what was a case of penalties head with Belaili playing a good the flank. receiving a cross from Osman, galore, and of which Youcef Be- supportive role, took them Four minutes later, Al Arabi Tiberkanine charged ahead laili scored three, Qatar Sports ahead by nodding home Nasir opened the scoring. Ibrahim, with the ball inside the box be- Club registered an absorbing Baksh’s cross from deep in the with nobody marking him, fore calmly slotting it into the Al 4-1 win over Al Ahli in their right. picked up a short cross near Arabi net. Week 10 clash of the QNB Stars He was denied in the 36th the half-line and then charged Then came the spectacular League at the Al Ahli Stadium minute as his goal was ruled ahead solo. Around 5-6 yards goal. Gunnarsson, after receiv- on Wednesday. offside. from the edge of the Al Kharaiti- ing a short pass near the edge The match saw four penal- The Al Ahli attacking duo of yat box, Nasser curled in a spec- of his own box, ran with the ball ties being given (one in Al Ah- El Zhar, Abdulrasheed Umaru tacular right-footed shot that for short distance and then in li’s favour) and while Anthony and captain Omid Ebrahimi swung in late and beat the div- one single move fired the ball Okpotu (10th minute) and could not make much headway. ing keeper. from around 70 yards into the Youcef Belaili (49th, 68th and Al Ahli managed to equalise Al Kharaitiyat’s Moham- net with Al Kharaitiyat keeper 89th-minute penalties) scored through Nabil, who converted med Osman twice attempted way out of position. The long- for Qatar SC, Nabil El Zhar a penalty awarded when Qatar long-range shots (27th and range shot took the goalkeeper converted a penalty kick in the SC defender Mohammed Salem Al Arabi players rejoice after a goal in their 3-1 win against Al 32nd minute) from the edge of by surprise and he could do lit- 42nd minute for Al Ahli’s con- handled Ibrahim Majed’s head- Qatar Sports Club’s Youcef Kharaitiyat at the Al Ahli Stadium on Wednesday. the Al Arabi box, but on both tle to stop the ball from going solation goal. er off a corner kick. Belaili celebrates one of his occasions he was wayward as into the net. Qatar SC, coming off four Changing ends, Qatar SC three goals against Al Ahli in Kharaitiyat a 3-1 defeat at the Al picked up momentum with a The Thunders were not allowed consecutive victories, were in were more assertive and they their 4-1 win in the QNB Stars Ahli Stadium. threatening move that lacked much breathing space by Al Results no mood for a let-up and went regained the lead through Belai- League match at the Al Ahli Ibrahim Nasser Kalla (16th finishing touch in the third min- Arabi backline. Qatar SC 4 (Anthony Okpotu full steam ahead. The Kings li, who converted from the spot. Stadium on Wednesday. minute), Mehrdad Mohamma- ute. Al Arabi captain Ahmed In the second half, three 10’, Youcef Belaili 48’ (P), 68’ went on to complete their fifth The penalty was awarded when di (47th minute) and Aron Gun- Fathy covered plenty of ground quick goals were scored. (P), 89’ (P)) bt Al Ahli 1 (Nabil straight win and took their tally Mohamed Diame fouled Belaili. time. Belaili was yet again bang narsson (55th minute) scored on the right flank before slip- Mehrdad, after receiving a El Zhar 42’ (P)) to 18 points following their sixth The Algerian made it 3-1, on target from the spot. The of- Al Arabi’s goals. ping in a cross for Iranian team- short pass, charged into the Al Al Arabi 3 (Ibrahim Nasser Kala victory overall. Al Ahli remained again converting a penalty. fence was Omid’s foul on Omar Rachid Tiberkanine scored mate Mehrdad, who jumped for Karaitiyat box with Mahmoud 16’, Mehrdad Mohammadi 46’, on 19 points. This time, it was awarded after Al Emadi. the only goal of Al Kharaitiyat in a snap-header from close range, Abdelhalim giving a hot chase, Aron Gunnarsson 55’) Al Ahli, who were in the goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues the 50th minute.