Doha [Qatar], November 9: Al Rayyan produced a scintillating attacking display to edge Al Sadd 4-3 in 'Qatar Clasico' at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday, withstanding a spirited second-half comeback from the hosts to claim a memorable victory.
The win over defending champions also lifted Al Rayyan to the top of the table with 21 points with Al Duhail second on goal difference, while Al Sadd slipped to third with 18 points.
The highly anticipated round nine clash of Qatar Stars league lived up to its billing, delivering seven goals, end-to-end action and plenty of drama, including a missed penalty by Qatar star Akram Afif deep into first-half stoppage time.
Ahmed Alaaeldin struck twice for Al Rayyan, while Otavio Monteiro and Roger Guedes were also on target as the Lions raced into a commanding 4-1 lead before Al Sadd threatened a dramatic comeback.
Al Rayyan made a blistering start to the contest, with Alaaeldin breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute to give his side an early advantage.
Just three minutes later, Monteiro doubled the lead, leaving Al Sadd with an uphill task against their determined opponents.
The Wolves responded through Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino, who pulled a goal back in the 21st minute to revive their hopes of getting back into the contest.
However, Al Rayyan restored their two-goal cushion almost immediately, with Guedes finding the net in the 22nd minute to make it 3-1.
Al Rayyan continued their attacking momentum, and Alaaeldin completed his brace in the 28th minute, extending the advantage to 4-1 and putting his side firmly in control.
Al Sadd refused to surrender and reduced the deficit through Giovani Henrique in the 42nd minute, ensuring the first half ended with Al Rayyan holding a 4-2 advantage.
The second half saw Al Sadd continue their pursuit of a comeback, with Akram Afif striking in the 67th minute to narrow the gap to a single goal.
Afif's effort set up a tense finish as Al Sadd pushed for an equalizer, hoping to salvage a point from an encounter that had appeared beyond their reach.
Al Rayyan, however, held their nerve to withstand the late pressure and secure a hard-fought victory that propelled them to the top of the standings on goal difference with 21 points.
The triumph underlined Al Rayyan's attacking prowess, with their clinical finishing in the opening half proving decisive despite a spirited fightback from their opponents.
For Al Sadd, the defeat was a bitter setback, as their determined comeback fell agonisingly short after conceding four goals inside the opening 28 minutes.
Two-goal hero Ahmed Alaa said the team had specifically worked on his opening goal in training.
"We actually practised that first goal yesterday. We knew how the goalkeeper plays, and we worked on it in training. For the first, I read the goalkeeper's movement, while the second was a textbook header," he said.
He also dedicated the victory to the Al Rayyan supporters, praising their backing.
"The result is a collective effort by the players, coaching staff, management and fans. I'd like to thank the fans and dedicate this victory to them. Hopefully, we can continue to make them proud and maintain this level of performance and results until the end of the season," he said.
Source: Qatar Tribune
