Sadd rally to down Sailiya

Qatar giants Al Sadd bounced back from a two-goal deficit to overcome Al Sailiya 3-2 in their round 24 Qatar Stars League  clash yesterday.
After conceding two goals in the first 44 minutes, Al Sadd probably played their best football this season when they fired three goals in the space of 25 minutes at the Al Ahli Stadium.
Faouzi Aaish (28 and 44) scored two goals for Al Sailiya but Al Sadd hit back through Hassan al-Haydoos (46), Baghdad Bounedjah (49) and Morteza Pouraliganji (70) for their 13th win of the season.
 The game was a tight affair and spruug into life in the 19th minute; Al Sailiya’s Abdulrahman al-Harazi curled in a beautiful shot from the edge of the Al Sadd box but the swinging ball sailed just over the crossbar.
 After a few fruitless exchanges, Al Sailiya stunned Al Sadd by taking the lead through a penalty that left Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferrieira red-faced. Al Sadd’s Pedro brought down Colombian attacker Carlos Alberto and the infringement was enough for the referee to point to the penalty spot.
 Al Sailiya striker Aaish then calmly put the ball into the Al Sadd net as goalkeeper Muhannad Naim Hussein dived the wrong way to his right, giving his side a 1-0 lead.
 In the 35th minute, Aaish unleashed a ferocious shot from the edge of the box following a goalmouth melee, but Al Sadd goalkeeper Hussein this time punched the ball up in the air before pouching it safely.
 Five minutes from the first-half whistle, Al Sailiya’s Omer Ibrahim Hamad wasted an easy opportunity when goalkeeper Hussein produced a well-timed body save. Just seconds later, Al Sadd’s Bounedjah failed to connect a pass with only Al Sailiya goalkeeper Gomis Gregory Gomis at his mercy inside the box.
 Sailiya soon doubled their lead when Aaish found the back of the net for the second time from the penalty spot. The penalty came after Aaish had clipped a pass to his player inside the box but Al Sadd defender Pedro deliberately poked his elbow out to stop the ball.
In injury time, Al Sadd reduced the deficit after striker al-Haydoos chipped the ball above the Al Sailiya goalkeeper Gomis following a neat through ball. Soon after the resumption, Al Sadd drew level with Al Sailiya after Baghdad Bounjah nodded the ball into the back of the net, on 49th minute after being assisted by Xavi.
 Al Sadd pushed hard for a winner and took the lead for the first time in the 70th minute. Captain Xavi curled in a beautifully-taken corner kick which was headed home by Morteza Pouraliganji. Iranian international Pouraliganji celebrated the goal by running towards coach Ferrieira who sported a huge smile on the touchline.