Defending champions Al Sadd bounced back from a shock loss to Al Shamal in their opening Ooredoo Stars League fixture to thrash Qatar SC 5-1 on Saturday.
Brace from Rafael Mujica (2nd and 89th minutes) and a goal each from Mohamed Waad (48th), Boualem Khoukhi (55th) and Moataz Majed Bostami (90+5th – own goal) ensured an easy win for Felix Sanchez’s men at the Khalifa International Stadium. Qatar SC’s only goal was scored by Javier Martinez in the 15th minute.
In the other match on Saturday, Omar al-Somah rescued a point for Al Arabi in a 1-1 draw against Al Wakrah at the Al Thumama Stadium. The Syrian forward scored an equaliser in the 77th minute after Lucas Mendes had put Wakrah ahead in the 58th minute. It was second consecutive draw for both the teams as they remain without a win in this campaign.
Meanwhile, Sadd began on a strong note shocking the rivals soon after kick-off, with Akram Afif initiating the move from a set piece by passing the ball to Abdulla al-Yazidi who ran down the right and provided a fine assist for Mujica to score. Qatar SC made amends, equalising 12 minutes later as a corner kick punched away by Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham went straight to an unmarked Martinez and who slotted it in neatly.
Qatar SC then on held on till the half-time break despite Sadd attacking hard and coming close to scoring on more than two occasions. The formidable Sadd, however, came back strongly on resumption of play gaining lead with a wonderful goal from Mohamed Wadd, the player collecting a Guilherme Torres pass on the left and unleashing a powerful long-ranger from almost 20 yards outside the box to rattle the net.
Thereafter, Sadd would brook no challenge and kept asserting their supremacy with goals being scored at regular intervals. Breaking past Qatar SC defence now seemed no big challenge as The Wolves hunted ferociously as a pack. Their third goal was realised when Afif sent back a return pass to Hashim Ali down the left and he provided Khoukhi with a perfect opportunity to strike with his left foot.
Qatar SC were now losing steam and Mujicia made the most of it as he picked a substitute Yusuf Abdurisag pass to wrestle past a challenging Bostami and break into the penalty area to beat a hapless goalkeeper Motasem Albustami for the fourth goal.
There was more misery in store for Qatar SC in the dying minute of stoppage time as Bostami headed in a Mujicia cross into his own goal while slipping down on the turf.
Later, Sadd coach Sanchez spoke about the importance of the victory. "We delivered a good performance in the first half despite the 1-1 draw. We missed many opportunities that could have given us a comfortable lead,” the former Qatar coach said.
"In the second half, we were better in every aspect, more effective in front of the goal, and succeeded in scoring for goals that secured us the three points. I’m happy with the win and even more so for the players after achieving our first victory of the season.”