Football giants Al Sadd thrashed Al Khor 4-0 yesterday to pick up three points in the Qatar Stars League and move to the top of the table ahead of Lekhwiya.
Al Sadd now have 53 points from 22 matches, the same as Lekhwiya, but are ahead on goal difference, with just four rounds remaining.
Playing a controlled game at Al Khor Stadium, Al Sadd opened through Khalfan Ibrahim in the first half before jumping to a 2-0 lead when Pedro Miguel found the back of Al Khor net soon after after the hour-mark.
Algerian forward Baghdad Bounedjah added Al Sadd’s third goal late in the second half followed by a goal from substitute Hamza Sanhaji off the final kick of the game in injury time.
In the eighth minute, Haithem Mohamed was tripped near the box by Al Sadd’s Pedro but the home team misfired with their first free-kick of the game.
A minute later, Al Khor’s Sultan Mohamed blocked a fierce close-range shot by Ibrahim Maged, killing what was Al Sadd’s first real threat at Al Khor goalmouth.
In the 19th minute, Al Sadd striker Ibrahim fired a bullet from the edge of the Al Khor box but his shot was deflected away for a corner by Baba Djibril.
Seconds later, Al Sadd scored their first goal with a bit of good fortune in the 20th minute.
Barca legend and Al Sadd captain Xavi spotted Hassan al-Haydos unmarked on the right flank and slipped in an easy ball to the star striker.
Al-Haydos fired a fast-paced shot toward the Al Khor goalmouth but the ball ricocheted off the goalpost and hit Djibril’s leg before smashing into the net.
Close to the half-hour mark, Welinton Souza produced a well-timed snap-header from close range but Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al-Dosari killed off the move by blocking the high ball.
In the 33rd minute, Al Khor’s Mouhssine Iajour eased past his marker Pedro before unleashing a powerful shot that was punched by Al Sadd goalkeeper.
Just minutes into the second half, Xavi curled in a beautifully taken free-kick but Al Khor goalkeeper Djibril thwarted the move with a neat save.
Close to the hour-mark, Al Sadd nearly scored the second goal but Bounedjah’s lunge on a pass from al-Haydos missed the target from close range.
In the 65th minute, Al Sadd grabbed their second goal; Pedro, stationed on the edge of the Al Khor box, received a pass from Bounedjah and quickly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Djibril.
A few minutes after conceding the second goal, Al Khor’s Parou Babou charged into Al Sadd box but his shot from close range was blocked by goalkeeper al-Dosari.
In the 80th minute, Bounedjah scored his 22nd goal of the season as he deflected a pass from al-Haydos into the Al Khor net.