Al Sadd Crush Qatar SC for Second Successive Win

Doha, September 23 (QNA) - Relying on a goal spree in the first few minutes of the match, Al Sadd on Sunday crushed hosts Qatar SC 5-2 at Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium. Raul and Mamadouh Niang scored two goals each while Nadir Belhadj scored the fifth goal in the 53rd minute. For the losers, Bakari Kone (6) and Youssef Safri (47) scored the two goals. Qatar played the last few minutes with just nine men after two players - Mourad Naji and Ali Saber - were red carded by the referee for needless tackles on Raul. In just the third minute, Talal Baloushi made inroads close to Qatar SC box and slipped the ball to Niang. The Senegalese opted for a left-footed drive and went for the left of goalkeeper Mohammed Mobaraq for his team's first strike. In less than four minutes, Qatar SC struck back as Kone found the net in a textbook charge and finish. Kone picked up a lose ball near the Al Sadd box but despite being under pressure from Korean defender Jung-Soo Lee, the Ivory Coast striker chipped and charged before unleashing a powerful drive past the diving goalkeeper. In the 10th minute, Al Sadd grabbed the lead for the second time when Qatar SC's Safri brought down Raul inside the box. The referee flashed a yellow card and pointed to the spot. Niang calmly scored from the penalty. In the 13th minute, Al Sadd scored their third goal. Abdulkarim charged in from the left flank and calmly slotted the ball through to unmarked Raul who deflected the ball past the goalkeeper. Soon after the resumption of play, Qatar SC struck back through Safri who curled in a free-kick in 47th minute. The ball looped over the heads of Al Sadd players and bounced awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr. The bounced completely fooled Saqr who failed to read the flight and allowed the ball to go into the net. Belhadj scored in the 53rd minute. In the 56th minute, Raul netted his second goal with a clinical flick from the edge of Qatar SC box, leaving the home team coach Sebastiao Lazaroni furious on the touchline. (QNA)