Al Sadd came back from a goal down to beat Al Arabi 3-1 while Qatar SC scored a much-needed 2-1 win over Al Shamal in the Qatar Stars League on Thursday.
At the Al Thumama Stadium, all of Wolves’ three goals came in the second half after Al Arabi had opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Ahmed Alaaeldin. Rafa Mujica fired home a brace (54th minute and 88th minute), and Akram Afif scored from the spot (76th minute, penalty) as Al Sadd bounced back to winning ways — moving their points tally to 28 to go second in the table while The Dream Team remained on 13 points and in 11th place.
Coming from a painful 0-1 defeat to Qatar SC in the previous week, Al Sadd made their intentions known right from the start. Al Sadd talisman, Afif, was caught offside in the seventh minute while attempting to pull off what would have been the opening goal of the encounter before Boualem Khoukhi’s right-footed shot from a direct free kick in the 11th minute went inches high.
Things suddenly went Al Arabi’s way in the 18th minute when Al Sadd’s backline was caught napping, allowing Isaac Lihadji to send a defence-splitting pass to Alaaeldin, who successfully put to bed the brilliant sitter.
Things almost went further awry for Al Sadd in the 39th minute when Ahmed Suhail conceded a penalty for a foul on Al Arabi’s Youssef Msakni, but goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham pulled off an excellent save of Abdou Diallo subsequent spot kick to ensure that their lone goal remained going into halftime.
Al Sadd came out for the second half determined to avert a second successive loss in a league that has proved to be more competitive than ever.
After nine minutes of relentless pressure into the second half, Mujica gave the coach Felix Sanchez’s team something to cheer about when he nodded home Romain Saiss’ overhead cross from the centre of the box to restore parity for the away team.
Al Sadd continued to up their game, and won a penalty in the 75th minute for a push on Pedro Miguel in the final third, ironically by Diallo, who missed his own spot kick earlier on. The subsequent kick was tucked in by Afif, who sent goalkeeper Jasem al-Hail in the opposite direction with his right-footed shot a minute later.
By the 88th minute, Al Sadd had made it 3-1 with Mujica hitting the bull’s eye again with a left-footed shot from a difficult angle on the left, from an assist by Afif, to complete a total turnaround in an highly entertaining encounter.
Earlier at the Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, a late stoppage-time penalty ensured a 2-1 win for Qatar SC over Al Shamal. Al Shamal were reduced to 10-man earlier in the 38th minute after their goalkeeper Babacar Seck was given the marching orders after he landed his head on Qatar SC’s Ahmed Abdelkader’s neck while going for a high ball. While Abdelkader (90+10 minute-penalty) and Ataa Jaber (45+3 minute) scored the goals for Qatar SC, Baghdad Boundedjah scored from the spot for Al Shamal’s only goal in the 82nd minute of the match. Al Shamal then also conceded a penalty after Abdelkader was brought down from behind by substitute Omar Ali while the former was charging from left inside the danger area.
The result saw Qatar SC leapfrog from being 11th in the rankings to 9th place with a tally to 16 points, while Al Shamal remained in 5th spot with 19 points. Both teams played attacking football and had several attempts at the rival dens but couldn’t find the target early enough.
In the added time of the opening half, Jaber produced a spectacular goal to put his team ahead. Jaber first took an Abdelkader lob on to his chest then volleyed a kick to turn around and fire into the right corner. The second session saw Al Shamal trying hard but rued misses. Al Shamal’s chance to equalise eventually came when Bounedjah was brought down in the box. The referee called for a penalty and Bounedjah made no mistake (1-1). Al Shamal, however, soon paid for their own mistake as Abdelkader was tackled from behind and he stepped up to beat the rival goalkeeper with ease and rush into celebrations.
Sports
Mujica nets brace as Sadd get back to winning ways
Abdelkader’s late stoppage-time penalty ensures Qatar SC a 2-1 victory over Al Shamal

Action from the Qatar Stars League match between Qatar SC and Al Shamal.

Al Sadd’s Rafa Mujica celebrates after scoring against Al Arabi at the Al Thumama Stadium on Thursday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil