Riyadh, 25 April 2021- Al Sadd SC struck in both halves to beat Al Wehdat 2-0 in a crucial 2021 AFC Champions League Group D tie on Friday.
The win took Qatar champions Al Sadd to seven points from four matches, one behind Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr who beat Foolad Khouzestan FC of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2-0 in Group D's other tie on Friday.
Al Sadd will now aim for three points against Foolad on Monday, with Al Nassr to face Al Wehdat as Group D heads for an exciting finish with two Matchdays remaining.
Similar to their Matchday Three clash, Al Sadd dominated the early proceedings with their first look at goal coming in the sixth minute when Baghdad Bounedjah won a free-kick just outside the box, but Al Wehdat goalkeeper Abdallah Alfakhori safely parried Santi Cazorla’s strike.
However, Al Wehdat suffered a blow six minutes later when defender Yazan Alarab conceded a penalty for a challenge on Bounedjah, with Cazorla easily converting the spot-kick to give the Qatar champions the lead.
With their AFC Champions League hopes on the line, Al Wehdat had to shed their defensive approach and the Jordan side came close in the 21st minute with Khaled Assam’s right-footed shot striking the upright, before Abdou Ndiay forced a save out of Al Sadd ‘keeper Meshaal Barsham four minutes later.
Al Wehdat upped their tempo and continued pressing but couldn’t find the equaliser as Qatar champions Al Sadd were hardly stretched in the remaining minutes of the first half.
In an attempt to bolster his side, Al Wehdat head coach Abdullah Abu Zema made three substitutions, sending on Amara Munther Abu, Ahmed Haikal and Ahmad Zreik at the hour mark but it was to no avail as Al Sadd held firm at the back.
Al Wehdat’s hopes suffered another setback when Alarab received his second yellow card of the night in the 76th minute for a foul on Yusuf Abdurisag.
Al Sadd could have closed off the match in the 81st minute, with Bounedjah picking up a through pass but the Algerian striker’s shot deflected off the post.
Ali Asad, however, confirmed the points for Al Sadd when he finished Abdurisag's pass in the 89th minute.
