DOHA (Qatar): Akram Afif scored a hat-trick as Al Sadd beat Al Sailiya 3-0 in Qatar Stars League (QSL) at their home turf on Saturday.
The win took Sadd’s tally to 30 points, just three behind Duhail, who will play third-placed Al Rayyan (28 points) in the evening’s later match.
The 2019 AFC Player of the Year was on target in the second minute of the game. He then scored from the spot in the 48th minute after the Qatar international was pulled down inside the box by Mohamed Rajeb.
The 23-year-old product of Aspire Academy then completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute to give an important win for the reigning champions.
The Sadd left-winger started the year by playing an integral part in Qatar’s AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 triumph, as his one goal and 10 assists helped power Felix Sanchez’s squad to Asian glory with Afif’s partnership with Almoez Ali a major highlight.
He carried that form into the Qatar Stars League, scoring 26 goals and making 15 assists, as Sadd won the title for 14th time last season.
The Super Cup was also added to the Al Sadd trophy cabinet.
Ten-man Al Gharafa hold Qatar SC goalless
In another match played on Friday evening, ten-man Al Gharafa held on for a 0-0 draw with Qatar Sports Club at the latter’s home ground.
A match with consequences at both ends of the QSL table failed to produce a result in a hearty battle, which saw the pendulum swing in favour of Qatar SC as early as the third minute when Al Gharafa’s Mostafa Kadira was sent off.
Wakrah overcome Shahania
Al Wakrah overcame a resilient Al Shahania with a 4-1 victory in the 14th round match at their home ground.
Al Wakrah’s goals were scored by Mohamed Benyettou in the 21st and 90+1 minutes, Iliass Hassani (63rd) and Khalid Muneer (88th). Al Shahania had earlier equalised in the 51st minute through Ramin Rezaein.
