Pushed back by an Adam Bareiro goal in the 56th minute, Al Sadd rallied as Rafa Mujica fetched the equaliser in the 67th minute and soon Giovani scored their second goal in the 69th minute.
Their 15th win of the league so far (most by any team) took Al Sadd’s tally to 46 points at the top and two points clear of Al Duhail, who earlier went down to Al Shamal 0-4. With just two matches remaining, Sadd can defend their title if they can continue their winning run.
Speaking after the match, al-Haydos said the important win helped Al Sadd strengthen their position at the top of the table. He added that the victory over Al Rayyan was crucial for the team but emphasised that Al Sadd has not achieved anything yet.
He said: “Alhamdulillah for the win. It was a big and tough match. Al Rayyan is a strong team, and the game had very few chances. It was very important for us to get the three points, but at the same time, we don’t consider that we’ve achieved something major yet. There’s still a lot of work ahead.”
The Al Sadd captain continued: “Al Rayyan is a strong side, and we can never underestimate them. The match wasn’t easy, but we managed to come back after falling behind, which speaks to the team’s spirit and determination to win. These three points are vital for our title race, but we know there’s still a long way to go.”
Al-Haydos also called for greater fan support in the upcoming matches, saying: “We need our fans to show up in bigger numbers in the next games. Their presence gives us a massive morale boost. We know the Al Sadd fans are always behind us during tough times, and I hope their support grows in the coming rounds.”
He concluded by underlining the importance of the remaining matches: “Our upcoming games against Al Khor and Al Ahli will be decisive. We treat every match as a final, and we will give our utmost in next two matches to secure the three points and keep fighting for the title until the very last moment.”
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