Reigning champions Al Sadd opened their new QNB Stars League campaign with a 2-0 win over Al Sailiya, while Al Duhail and Al Arabi also notched victories on Sunday.
Boualem Khoukhi (23rd minute) and Rodrigo Tabata (33rd minute) scored the goals for Al Sadd with The Wolves dominating the proceedings in the first half.
Al Sadd captain Hassan al-Haydos narrowly missed the goalpost to the left of Al Sailiya goalkeeper Abdurahman Mahamat in the seventh minute. Experienced midfielder Tabata curled in a well-taken free-kick from outside the Al Sailiya box, but the deflection by Guilherme Torres was tad wayward in the 13th minute.
Seconds later, on two back-to-back corner kicks, the Al Sailiya goalkeeper remained alert to stop a couple of snap-headers by Khoukhi and Torres. In between, feared striker Baghdad Bounedjah hit the crossbar with a header as the Al Sadd forwardline orchestrated a series of dangerous moves.
Four minutes later, new signing Andre Ayew drilled a low powerful shot that got deflected by Al Sailiya’s Magdi Siddiq, but the goalkeeper parried the ball above the crossbar with a high jump as he fell backwards.
Al Sadd opened the scoring when unmarked Khoukhi deflected a low cross from Bounedjah into the Al Sailiya net. Exactly 10 minutes later, Bounedjah found Tabata with low cross from the edge of the box. Tabata anticipated the pass well and flicked the ball into the net with ease on first touch.
Al Sailiya nearly pulled off a goal when, in the 63rd minute, Ramin Resaein hit the Al Sadd crossbar on a direct free-kick. Adama Diomande attempted a header off the rebound, but Al Sadd keeper Meshal Barsham pouched the deflection.
A few minutes later, substitute Fahad Khalfan drilled a shot from outside the box, but the Al Sadd keeper blocked the move with relative ease. Neither side managed to score in the second half as Al Sadd picked up three points from the entertaining clash.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail beat Al Khor 4-1. Michael Olunga (34th and 68th-min penalty minute), Ismail Mohamed (50th minute) and Khaled Mohamed (89th minute) scored for Al Duhail. Rafael Vaz had put Al Khor ahead as early as the fourth minute.
Duhail easily overcame the early jolt when new recruit Rafael curled in a free-kick past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Salah Zakaria, who dived full-length to his left. Al Duhail succeeded in drawing parity late in the half when Olunga tapped in a short cross from Ismail Mohamed from almost the goalline after Vaz failed to clear the ball.
Five minutes after restart, Al Duhail added a second goal through Ismail Mohamed, who sent in a rebound off goalkeeper Djibril after Olunga had first taken the shot. Al Duhail grew in strength and struck their third goal, as Olunga converted a penalty awarded by referee Khalid Abdulla after he was brought down by Al Khor captain Naif al-Beriki. Khaled rounded off the tally with a solo effort, beating Djibril.
Meanwhile, Al Arabi beat Al Wakrah 1-0 courtesy Aaron Boupendza in the 71st minute.