Doha: Al Sadd blanked Al Wakrah 3-0 in a dominating show in Week 8 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Janoub Stadium on Sunday.
The defending champions rode on a brace from Rafa Mujica (24th and 86th minutes), while Akram Afif scored another goal in the 59th minute.
The fifth win of the league season saw Al Sadd take their tally to 15 points to move closer to Al Duhail at the top. Al Wakrah, suffering their third loss of the league championship, slipped to sixth spot with 11 points.
Al Sadd would have added more to the scoreline, but for some close finishes and some good saves from Al Wakrah goalkeeper Mohammed Al Bakri.
The Wolves were expected to come hard on their rivals, but they put on a fierce and attacking show that put The Cheetahs off their tracks.
Al Wakrah initially tried to cut down on Al Sadds fast pace and seemed to hold on well with the smart defence, but it did not take Al Sadd long to draw first blood. And the strike came in spectacular fashion after Moustafa Tarek set Mujica up with a fine short pass at the top centre just outside the box. The Spaniard made a half turn on pivot before unleashing a drive that beat three defenders and a flying goalkeeper to his left.
A shaken Al Wakrah tried to make amends, but their attempts were met with constant spoils from Al Sadd. Jacinto Dala did come close on one occasion, but his kick at the goal from a short distance was well cut off by alert Al Sadd custodian Meshaal Barsham.
Al Sadd resumed the second session more forcefully and nearly doubled their lead in the 50th minute as Mujica moved a through ball down and a sprinting Afif made a fine attempt trying to beat stretched goalkeeper to his left, but the ball got deflected by his fingertips.
Afif eventually has his way minutes later as Cristo Gonzalez provided the assist from the right and Afif burst in to flip it over the goalkeeper this time (2-0).
Firing on all cylinders, Al Sadd kept coming hard at their rivals with some chances ending in kicks either going over the target or wide.
They delighted their fans one more time towards the end as Moustafa again flipped the over a defender and into the striking zone for Mujica to rush in and kick it in on the volley.
Al Sadd almost added a fourth in dying moments of stoppage time as substitute Yusuf Abdurisag came face-to-face with Al Wakrah goalkeeper but failed to beat him, the ball on rebound going to Mujica who this time hit it wide to the right.
Source: Qatar News Agency