By Sports Reporter/Doha
Rodrigo Tabata scored a brace as Al Sadd consolidated their position in the Qatar Stars League with an emphatic 4-1 win over Al Khor yesterday.
Tabata, who transferred to Al Sadd from Al Rayyan after the Lions were relegated last season, scored his team’s first and third goals to give Al Sadd their eighth win in 10 matches.
Abdulkarim Hassan and Ali Asadulla completed the misery for Al Khor, although they managed to pull one back through William.
Yesterday’s win took the Wolves’ tally to 26 points, putting pressure on defending champions Lekhwiya who face a crucial match against Al Arabi today.
Lekhwiya surrendered their lead to Al Sadd earlier this week and are in second spot with 22 points. They need a win today to keep the heat on Al Sadd or risk falling behind in the title race.
Al Sadd’s supremacy was never in doubt, especially with Brazilian Tabata finally finding his scoring touch after having had a lacklustre season so far.
The Al Khor defence had a tough time keeping him at bay as Tabata time and again threatened to score.
The diminutive attacking midfielder, however, could not be denied for long as he struck off a solo effort in the 27th minute, wrong-footing the Al Khor goalkeeper Baba Djibril with a low shot.
Al Sadd continued to squander chances thereafter, Tabata himself going close a couple of times and goalkeeper Djibril also came up with a fine save.
However, in their keenness to attack, Al Sadd conceded the equalizer in the 42nd. William met a long pass from Djibril just outside the penalty area, and after outwitting the late-reacting defence drove the ball powerfully into the right corner of the net past Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb.
Al Khor’s joy was short-lived as they conceded their second goal in similar fashion, Abdulkarim Hassan chesting down a long pass from goalkeeper al-Sheeb and driving home comfortably at the stroke of half-time.
Al Sadd upped their game a few notches in the second session and struck their third goal with Asadulla doing most of the spadework and passing to Tabata, who scored from close range in the 69th minute.
Asadulla himself benefited from a Tabata pass in the 75th minute to help Al Sadd complete the rout.
Al Sadd could have had another goal but Abdulkarim Hassan missed a penalty, Djibril making a fine save.
Al Sadd’s Rodrigo Tabata (second left) celebrates after scoring a goal yesterday against Al Khor. Picture: Noushad Thekkayil
