Sadd cruise past Sailiya as Wakrah climb to fourth

Al Sadd eased past Al Sailiya 4-0 in the QNB Stars League on Friday at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium as the reigning champions moved three points behind second-placed Al Arabi
The Wolves led 3-0 at half time after goals from Akram Afif (10th minute), Guilherme Torres (25th minute), Baghdad Bounedjah (31st minute), while Ahmed Sayyar (75th minute) found the net after the break. Sadd now have 28 points from 15 matches, seven points behind leaders Al Duhail, who have a game in hand. Sailiya slid to the bottom position in 15th with 9 points.
The opening goal, from a counter initiated by Afif, was a fine combination of long passes after the mercurial forward ran down the stretch from the left and Santi Cazorla sent the ball back for Afif to score with a long strike that went into the right corner of the net.
Sadd showed more of their class in their second goal with Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Torres – returning from suspension after his absence in the last match against Qatar SC – making a 35-yard strike that rocketed into the top left corner of the goal. Torres was assisted by Cazorla with a fine pass from the left.
The Wolves added another goal in quick succession with the Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah scoring from in front of the goal after Ali Asadalla passed the ball to him following his own header. In the second half, Markhiya survived the first scare when in the 54th minute a Cazorla kick hit the crossbar and fell out. He was given the pass by Bounedjah.
Sadd, however, added the fourth goal with their free flowing play and good passing. Ahmed Sayyar after passing the ball to a teammate scored off a rebound from the rival goalkeeper.
Al Wakrah also posted an identical win as they outclassed Al Markhiya at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium. Mohamed Benyettou (2nd minute and 70th minute) scored a brace while Hazem Shehata (14th minute) and Yousuf Abdurrisag (90+1 minutes) were the other scorer.
The Blue Waves moved to fourth with 23 points edging Al Gharafa and Qatar SC on goal difference.
Elsewhere, Al Gharafa failed to climb to fourth spot after held by Al Ahli to a 1-1 draw. Mehdi Tahrat scored for Gharafa in the 30th minute and Abdulrasheed Ibrahim equalised for Al Ahli in the 66th minute. Ahli’s Sofiane Hanni was shown the red card in 90+7 minute. Gharafa are fifth with 23 points, while Al Ahli are seventh with 21 points.