Doha, 23 January 2022 - Akram Afif scored a hat-trick to keep Al Sadd juggernaut rolling while Al Duhail’s title aspirations seemed to be over after suffering a stunning 0-4 defeat to Al Wakrah in the QNB Stars League yesterday.
At the Grand Hamad Stadium, reigning champions Al Sadd were given a stern test by Al Arabi in the Qatar Derby, but the leaders prevailed 4-2 thanks to Afif’s heroics.
Al Sadd with 37 points are five points ahead of second-placed Al Duhail, and have also played three games less than their closest rivals.
Santi Cazorla put Al Sadd ahead after the Spaniard converted a penalty in the seventh minute. Al Arabi equalised in the 45th minute through Hamid Ismail’s spot kick but Al Sadd took the lead again two minutes later as Afif curled in from the edge of the box.
Abdulqader Ilyas’ thunderous header in the 52nd minute restored the stalemate. But again it took Al Sadd just two minutes to go ahead as an unmarked Afif slammed the ball into the net from close range. Afif then put the game to bed in the 83rd minute after a cutback from Abdulkarim Hassan.
