South Korean star Nam Tae-hee scored once in each half to power Al Sadd to a 3-1 win over Al Duhail in their QNB Stars League match yesterday.
The match was postponed from week three of the competition due to the team’s involvement in the Asian Champions League which was held in Doha over a three-week period in September-October.
Nam struck in the 22nd and 70th minutes, with Guilherme Torres scoring the second goal for Xavi’s team seven minutes from half-time.
Eduardo Rodriguez (Dudu) reduced the margin for Al Duhail four minutes from close.
Al Sadd took their points tally to 10 to be placed second in the table, while holders Al Duhail, playing their first league match under French coach Sabri Lamouchi, stayed on six.
As expected, the heavyweight clash between the two powerhouses in Qatar football was not devoid of drama.
Al Sadd missed injured striker Baghdad Bounedjah, but regained the services of forward Akram Afif, who was on national duty along with some other players.
Al Sadd showed more purpose in their attack and whenever they launched raids, Al Duhail crowded their defence.
Al Sadd’s Santi Cazorla’s free-kick was blocked by goalkeeper Mohamed al-Bakri and Akram hit his shot against the right upright.
At the other end, Ramin Rezaeian’s free-kick hit the defensive wall.
Nam gave Al Sadd the lead with a powerful shot that dipped inside the goal after hitting the crossbar, giving no chance to al-Bakri despite his effort to get his hand on to the ball.
Guilherme doubled the lead by heading in a free-kick taken by captain Hassan al-Haydous.
For Al Duhail, Dudu made two attempts at the goal during the first half and captain Almoez Ali sent the ball wide of the target.
Al Duhail took the field in the second half with Ismail Mohamed replacing Mehdi Benatia. Both teams then made a spate of substitutions.
Al Duhail were now more in the game than they were in the first half even as Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham continued to make impressive saves.
Nam consolidated for Al Sadd with an angular shot past Ramin after Akram set him up by heading down a long cross.
Al Duhail had a goal disallowed in the 77th minute as referee Salman Falahi, after consulting the VAR, ruled that Ismail ‘handled’ the ball before scoring following a free-kick taken by Ramin.
Dudu finally found the target with a left-footed shot, but it was too late for Al Duhail.
Al Sadd’s Nam Tae-hee (second from left) celebrates his goal with teammates during the QNB Stars League match against Al Duhail yesterday.
