Alkass Digital
Qatari playmaker Akram Afif scored a goal and set up another as Al Sadd defeated Qatar SC 2-0 to keep their hopes alive for third consecutive QNB Stars League (QSL) title at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.
Umm Salal also notched up a win edging 10-man Al Markhiya 3-2 with Aleksa Vukanovic scoring the winner in yesterday’s other match.
After a goalless first half, Afif broke the deadlock in 67th minute with a fabulous hit slotting into the right corner from the edge of the box.
The Al Sadd star then assisted substitute Ahmad Mohamed Al Saeed, who tapped the ball into an open goal in 90+1 minutes to seal three valuable points for the defending champions, who are third with 38 points, now trailing leaders Al Arabi by five points with three matches remaining.
Earlier, Qatar SC got off to an impressive start with Raoul Danzabe Sanda storming into the box past several defenders to control a through pass but his shot was blocked well by Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal ?Barsham, who replaced Saad Al Sheeb yesterday.
Qatar SC goalkeeper Sataa Abdulnaser Al Abbasi also made a brilliant save denying Ayoub El Kaabi from a close range after he received a cross from Rodrigo Tabata in the 15th minute.
At Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Markhiya were reduced to 10 men early in the match when Khaled Radwan was sent off for a dangerous foul against Umm Salal’s Yassin Bakhit in 16th minute.
Abdellah Khafifi handed Umm Salal lead in 31st minute but four minutes later Ayoub Assal leveled the score for Al Markhiya.
After Ismail Dahqani regained lead for the Orange Fortress in 59th minute, Driss Fettouhi equalised by converting a penalty in 68th minute before Vukanovic struck the decisive goal three minutes later.
Remaining games are finals for us: Crespo
Meanwhile, Al Duhail coach Hernan Crespo has said his Red Knights will bounce back after a 2-0 defeat to Al Gharafa on Friday.
Al Duhail slipped to second place in the standings, one point behind leaders Al Arabi. But Al Duhail have four matches remaining as compared to the Dream Team who have three matches left to earn points.
“We are ready for these four games which we will have to play with full force. We will play these matches as finals and will give our best,” said Crespo.
Al Duhail will now meet Al Rayyan on Tuesday in their delayed Week 15 match.
Crespo said his team must avail opportunities to earn the desired results. “We created many opportunities against Al Gharafa and dominated them with ball possession. We must take opportunities of these chances,” he added.