Striker Baghdad Bounedjah lived up to his fearsome reputation Wednesday as Algeria crushed Sudan 4-0 in their opening FIFA Arab Cup match.
Bounedjah, who plies his trade with Qatari football giants Al Sadd, produced a slick brace as Algeria launched their Group D campaign with a stellar show at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
The 30-year-old forward – declared man of the match – Wednesday opened the scoring in the 11th minute and then added one more in the 37th to give Algeria a 2-0 cushion in quick time. Djamel Benlamri added the third in the 43rd minute before El Arbi Hilal Soudani made it 4-0 in the 46th minute.
“It was a good win. We achieved our target from this match,” Bounedjah said after the match. “We have picked up three points and that’s what we were looking for. We are happy with our good start in this tournament,” the Al Sadd star said.
Algeria arrived for their first match on the back of an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions and exhibited fighting form to control the match from the first minute. Sudan, on the other hand, have now lost seven straight matches whereas in-form Algeria have found the net 20 times in their last five fixtures.
Bounedjah could have scored the most spectacular goal of the tournament but his bicycle from inside the box in the 9th minute but the ball hit the goalpost to the right of the Sudanese keeper and bounced back.
The Algerian opened the scoring in the 11th minute after receiving a smart cross from Hilal Soudani stationed close to the half line. Bounedjah anticipated the cross well, outpaced his marker as he charged towards the Sudan box. Sudan keeper Ali Abdallah charged out and ended up out of his box. Bounedjah hoodwinked Abdallah and sent the ball into the net with a low fast-paced shot that crashed into the net.
With momentum on their side, Bounedjah scored the second goal in the 37th minute after a pass from Al Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi. The ever-alert Bounedjah fired a powerful right-footed low shot from inside the penalty area into the net.
Qatar SC defender Benlamri added the third goal for the Algerian team two minutes before the end of the first half after an indirect deflection by Sofiane Bendebka on a corner kick. Benlamri, standing next to the goalline, produced a neat but low header by deflecting the ball into the Sudanese goal from close range.
One minute after the start of the second half, Soudani, striker of Saudi side Damak, scored Algeria’s fourth goal after taking advantage of a mistake by a Sudanese defender just a few feet outside the box.
Hilal Soudani wasted little time as he curled in a low left-footed drive from outside the box and sent the ball into the net.
And the Sudanese team had the opportunity to score a goal, but Mohamed Abdel Rahman Youssef missed a penalty kick in the 70th minute as the Algerian keeper dived to his right to slap the ball away. Coached by Majid Bougherra, Algeria will now play Lebanon on Saturday, while Sudan take on Egypt take on the same day.
Bounedjah, who plies his trade with Qatari football giants Al Sadd, produced a slick brace as Algeria launched their Group D campaign with a stellar show at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
The 30-year-old forward – declared man of the match – Wednesday opened the scoring in the 11th minute and then added one more in the 37th to give Algeria a 2-0 cushion in quick time. Djamel Benlamri added the third in the 43rd minute before El Arbi Hilal Soudani made it 4-0 in the 46th minute.
“It was a good win. We achieved our target from this match,” Bounedjah said after the match. “We have picked up three points and that’s what we were looking for. We are happy with our good start in this tournament,” the Al Sadd star said.
Algeria arrived for their first match on the back of an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions and exhibited fighting form to control the match from the first minute. Sudan, on the other hand, have now lost seven straight matches whereas in-form Algeria have found the net 20 times in their last five fixtures.
Bounedjah could have scored the most spectacular goal of the tournament but his bicycle from inside the box in the 9th minute but the ball hit the goalpost to the right of the Sudanese keeper and bounced back.
The Algerian opened the scoring in the 11th minute after receiving a smart cross from Hilal Soudani stationed close to the half line. Bounedjah anticipated the cross well, outpaced his marker as he charged towards the Sudan box. Sudan keeper Ali Abdallah charged out and ended up out of his box. Bounedjah hoodwinked Abdallah and sent the ball into the net with a low fast-paced shot that crashed into the net.
With momentum on their side, Bounedjah scored the second goal in the 37th minute after a pass from Al Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi. The ever-alert Bounedjah fired a powerful right-footed low shot from inside the penalty area into the net.
Qatar SC defender Benlamri added the third goal for the Algerian team two minutes before the end of the first half after an indirect deflection by Sofiane Bendebka on a corner kick. Benlamri, standing next to the goalline, produced a neat but low header by deflecting the ball into the Sudanese goal from close range.
One minute after the start of the second half, Soudani, striker of Saudi side Damak, scored Algeria’s fourth goal after taking advantage of a mistake by a Sudanese defender just a few feet outside the box.
Hilal Soudani wasted little time as he curled in a low left-footed drive from outside the box and sent the ball into the net.
And the Sudanese team had the opportunity to score a goal, but Mohamed Abdel Rahman Youssef missed a penalty kick in the 70th minute as the Algerian keeper dived to his right to slap the ball away. Coached by Majid Bougherra, Algeria will now play Lebanon on Saturday, while Sudan take on Egypt take on the same day.
