There seems to be no end to Xavi and Al Sadd’s woes as they suffered their fourth defeat in the QNB Stars League – this time against promoted Al Wakrah.
Mohamed Benyettou (eighth minute) and Omar Ali (38th minute) scored as Al Wakrah led 2-0 at half-time, before Hassan al-Haydos reduced the margin for Al Sadd in the 85th minute.
Al Sadd, the team with the most league titles – 14 – now don’t even have the consolation of still being in the top-4 as Al Arabi moved up on goal difference, and the grim fact remains that with just 18 points, they are 11 behind leaders Al Duhail, hardly a comforting statistic for the defending champions.
Al Sadd, however, have two matches in hand, deferred (from Weeks 5 and 7) due to their engagements in the 2019 AFC Champions League. They will play Al Arabi on January 6 and Al Khor on January 21 before the QNB Stars League’s Week 13 action begins on January 23.
Meanwhile, Al Wakrah moved to 15 points with their fourth victory. 
Al Sadd dominated the game with 62 per cent possession and created chances galore.
However, Al Wakrah played a smart game. The Blue Waves almost downed the shutter by the end of first half when they were two goals up and resorted to counter-attacks.
Benyettou was their livewire, but much credit should go to goalkeeper Hassan Idriss who weathered a flurry of attacks by Al Sadd, more in the second half.
Nam Tae-Hee, Baghdad Bounedjah, Boualem Khoukhi, Hamed Ismail, al-Haydos, Pedro, Akram Afif all either missed the mark or were thwarted by Idriss.
Benyettou scored off a free-kick taken by Abdulrahman Ahmed, whereas Omar’s goal came as a result of a corner kick and the ball was deflected in by Bounedjah.
All that Al Sadd could do was score a late goal.
Adding to The Wolves’ woes, Bounedjah sent a penalty straight to Idriss in the 20th minute. The kick was awarded for a foul on Bounedjah himself by Al Wakrah captain Bruno Uvini.
In the second match of the day, Al Arabi thrashed Al Ahli 3-0 to leapfrog Al Sadd and move to fourth place on goal difference.
This was Al Arabi’s fifth win from 11 matches, taking them to 18 points and boosting their chances of a top-four finish.
Al Arabi opened their account through German Pierre-Michel Lasogga who struck in the 15th minute and never looked back.
Continuing to dominate the proceedings, Al Arabi consolidated through Mohamed Salah in the 45th minute and finished off the match with a Morteza Pouraliganji strike in the 23rd.
Al Ahli thus suffered their seventh defeat in 12 matches and are placed ninth in the standings.
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