Baghdad Bounedjah underlined his tremendous importance for Al Sadd by
powering the Qatar giants to a 2-1 win over the UAE’s Al Wasl in their
AFC Champions League Group C clash yesterday.
Having only made his return to action last week after more than two and a
half months after suffering a fracture in late November, the Algerian
struck twice late in the second half to help the 2011 continental
champions gain three points at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai.
It marked a significant first victory for a Qatari side in the Emirates
since the illegal blockade was imposed on the country last June by Saudi
Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain with support from Egypt.
On Monday, Qatar’s Al Gharafa had fallen to a 3-2 defeat against the
UAE’s Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi marking the first visit by a team from
Qatar to the UAE.
The Asian Football Confederation had earlier rejected demands by the UAE
and Saudi football federations to have their Champions League matches
involving Qatari sides played on neutral venues.
Bounedjah, who was introduced as a substitute in the second half by Al
Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira, lived up to what was expected of him by
making an immediate impact on the game.
Al Wasl were returning to the continental competition after a decade and
their inexperience was clearly on display, although it was they who
scored first, in the 26th minute by Fabio Lima.
Lima advanced into the area from the right flank and scored past Al Sadd
goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb with a low shot from a tight angle after
hoodwinking two defenders.
It was the versatile Brazilian’s 100th goal for Al Wasl since he joined
them in 2014, but the hosts thereafter found the Al Sadd defence too
tough to crack.
Bounedjah had a first crack at the Al Wasl goal with an overhead kick in
the 70th minute but eventually found the target in the 79th minute when
he connected a sublime Xavi pass with a shot on the turn.
In the final minute of the game, Bounedjah was on target again, after he
got on the end of a cross by substitute Akram Afif which the Al Wasl
defence failed deal with. The striker finished on the half-volley to
seal an important victory for the former champions.
“I am very pleased with the victory especially it is our first match of
the tournament,” Ferreira said. “ We have a team full of capable players
who also don’t lack in confidence,” he added.
He also had a word of praise for Bounedjah.
“He is one of our key players who never fails to deliver. He was
unfortunately injured in a QNB Stars League game in November but he has
made a tremendous recovery which will be a boost for us as the season
progresses,” the Portuguese added.
Al Sadd welcome Persepolis to Doha next week while Al Wasl travel to Qarshi in Uzbekistan to face Nasaf.
Meanwhile in Doha, Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata had a mixed evening
as his side played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against Iran’s Esteghlal
at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Group D.
Two-time AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov found space inside Al
Rayyan’s box and sent a pacey cross that was deflected off Tabata and
into his own net to hand Esteghlal the lead inside six minutes.
Tabata shortly made amends, sending a pinpoint delivery from a free-kick
to find Abderrazzak Hamdallah. The Moroccan directed his header
accurately to beat goalkeeper Seyed Hosseini and bring Al Rayyan level
in the 18th minute.
The duo combined again 10 minutes later to turn the tie around. This
time Hamed-Allah was the creator as he cut inside from the left flank
and laid off a pass for Tabata who applied a first-time finish from
inside the box, leaving Hosseini helpless.
Al Rayyan were reduced to 10 men for the final 10 minutes after Tabata was dismissed for a late challenge on Pejman Montazeri.
Esteghlal took advantage of their numerical superiority to equalise two
minutes from time as Ali Ghorbani headed home Omid Ebrahimi’s cross from
the right wing.
Esteghlal face Saudi champions Al Hilal next while Al Rayyan travel to the UAE to play Al Ain.
Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates scoring against Al Wasl in Dubai yesterday.