AlKass Digital
Doha, Qatar. Bounedjah became the Qatar league’s
all-time top scorer in a single season after his brace helped Al Sadd thrash Al
Shahania 4-1 on Friday.
The victory also helped the Wolves close the gap on Al
Duhail to just one point after the leaders stumbled to a 1-1 draw against
10th-placed Qatar Sports Club.
Bounedjah, who was the top scorer in the AFC Champions League, struck in the
50th and 76th minutes, while Hassan al-Haydos also recorded a double as Al Sadd
reached 35 points from 14 matches, just one behind Al Duhail.
Algerian international Bounedjah thus took his personal tally to 28, beating
the previous mark of 27 set by Brazilian Clemerson Soares for Al Gharafa during
the 2007-08 season.
As expected, Al Sadd dominated possession and scripted more opportunities,
substantiated by 63 per cent of ball possession by them at half-time.
Interestingly, they maintained the same percentage at the end of the game.
After Al Shahania’s Kesse Amanguoa was thwarted by Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad
al-Dosari, Bounedjah missed a sitter, with rival goalkeeper Amer al-Amri
parrying the ball with his leg.
Al-Haydous opened the scoring in the 23rd minute by slotting home a rebound
after Akram Afif failed attempt at the goal.
Al Shahania were in no mood to give up, even though they had to play second
fiddle to their formidable opponents in the second half, and drew parity as
Luciano sent the ball in off a cross from the left by Kesse in the 42nd minute.
Al Sadd fired in three more goals after resumption, with Bounedjah being on
target twice, to surpass Clemerson.
Earlier, Duhail recorded their third draw when they were held 1-1 by Qatar
Sports Club.
Osama Omari had put Qatar SC ahead in the 22nd minute, but after a great deal
of huffing and puffing Murad Naji saved Duhail’s blushes with a 75th minute
strike to help his team grab a point.
The return of Cameroonian star Samuel Eto’o strengthened Qatar SC’s attack with
Osama and Hussein Ali contributing to the team’s cause.
Al Duhail continued to miss South Korean midfielder Nam Tae-Hee, who was
injured while doing national duty for his native South Korea during the last
international break.
Qatar SC matched Al Duhail move by move and even shocked the hosts by taking
the lead.
Goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker completely misjudged the flight of the ball after
Osama took the free-kick from the left. Neither did the defenders do anything
about it. The free-kick was awarded when Al Duhail defender Murad Naji
‘handled’ the ball.
Al Duhail created more chances, but nothing too strong that could give them a
goal. Paolo Edmilson tried to split open the Qatar SC defence. So did Yousef El
Arabi and Almoez Ali, all in vain.
The closest Al Duhail came to scoring in the first half was when Ali Afif sent
a first-time volley over the bar off a cross by Edmilson from the right.
Al Duhail started the second half by replacing Luis Martin with Under-23 player
Hazem Ahmed. Hazem immediately made his mark by moving forward and that
resulted in a collision involving him and Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim al-Hail.
Murad then came up with a long-ranger that went just wide on the hour mark.
However, the right-back was not to be denied as he struck the equaliser for Al
Duhail.
Indeed, Murad made amends for the offence he committed that led to Qatar SC’s
goal in similar fashion as he sent in a free-kick past the outstretched hands
of Al Hail.
Al Duhail intensified their efforts as the game wore on, but could not find the
winner.