Sadd striker Khalfan Ibrahim (centre) being congratulated by his teammates after he scored against Al Hilal yesterday. Picture: Mamdouh
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Khalfan Ibrahim was the hero in Doha as his goal helped 2011 AFC Champions League winners Al Sadd secure a valuable 1-0 win over last year’s runners-up Al Hilal at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium last night.
After failing to find the net in their opening day draw at Iranian champions Foolad Khouzestan last week, the Qataris took the lead when former AFC Player of the Year Ibrahim scored in the 30th minute with a powerful finish after being played through by forward Hasan al-Haydos.
And even though newly appointed coach Giorgios Donis’s Al Hilal dominated the majority of the second period they were unable to build on their 3-1 victory against Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan in Machday One as the hosts held out to jump to the top of Group C on four points from two games.
After a slow start the game burst into life on the half hour mark, when Al Hilal forward Yousef al-Salem was dispossessed in the centre of the park by al-Haydos and he played a wonderfully weighted ball through to Ibrahim, who skipped past two defenders and fired an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Abdullah al-Sdairy.
But the away side nearly equalised three minutes later when Brazilian midfielder Thiago Neves played in Abdullah Otayf, but he shot straight at goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb from a narrow angle.
And Al Hilal could have gone in to the break on even terms had Korea Republic defender Kwak Tae-hwi not headed over from eight yards out after an inch-perfect cross from Thiago Neves in first half stoppage time.
The Saudis brought on Greece international Georgios Samaras at half time, but it was the home side who started the second period the stronger and they almost doubled their advantage in the 47th minute when Ibrahim’s powerful shot from the edge of the area was parried wide by Al Hilal custodian al-Sdairy.
Missed chances
Although Al Sadd looked dangerous on the break, it was the visitors who were controlling most of the possession in the second period, and Kwak had another chance in the 70th minute but this time he headed wide.
Then with 15 minutes left on the clock Samaras played in Otayf, but his control let him down at the vital moment and the ball rolled softly into the grateful al-Sheeb’s hands.
Two minutes later Al Hilal had their best chance to level the tie when the creative Thiago Neves crossed into forward Khalid Kaabi, but he was unfortunate to see his header from eight yards strike the outside of the post.
The away side continued to push for the equaliser with the game being played out almost entirely in the Al Sadd half, but the hosts were able to hold out to move to the top of Group C after Foolad and Lokomotiv played out a 1-1 draw in the group’s earlier game. That’s good news for the Qatari club.
