Michael Olunga’s Al-Duhail go down fighting to Mohamed Camara’s Al Sadd

Al Sadd edged past Al Duhail in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash, closing the gap in the fiercely contested title race.

Kenya’s Michael Olunga and his Al Duhail teammates put up a spirited fight but ultimately fell short as reigning champions Al Sadd secured a crucial 2-0 victory in the heavyweight week 16 clash of the 2024/2025 Qatar Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Saturday.

Al Duhail, the league leaders, went into the game with 35 points, just ahead of second-placed Al Sadd on 31, making the contest a pivotal one in the title race.

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Kenya will need a strong performance in the return leg after Harambee Starlets were held to a frustrating draw by Tunisia.


With the win, Al Sadd moved within touching distance of their rivals, now trailing them by just one point with 34.

The match kicked off with high energy as Al Duhail signaled their attacking intent early on. In the 11th minute, Olunga came close to putting his side ahead with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the box following a clever pass from Almoez Ali. The effort, though precise, narrowly missed the top right corner, leaving the Al Sadd fans breathing a sigh of relief.

Despite Al Duhail’s early dominance, Al Sadd held their ground defensively, ensuring their opponents had limited clear-cut opportunities in the first half.

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The Wolves nearly took the lead in the 29th minute when Akram Afif found space inside the box and fired at goal, but his effort was expertly parried away by Al Duhail’s goalkeeper Salah Zakaria.

The first half ended goalless, setting the stage for an intriguing second period as both teams sought to break the deadlock. 

The first major talking point of the second half came in the 49th minute when Paulo Otavio thought he had put Al Sadd ahead with a well-taken left-footed shot from inside the box. However, after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was ruled out, much to the frustration of the home fans.

Drama continued three minutes later as Al Duhail were reduced to 10 men following Ibrahima Bamba’s red card for violent conduct. 

The numerical disadvantage meant Al Duhail had to shift to a more defensive approach, with coach Christophe Galtier making a surprising tactical move by substituting key striker Olunga for defender Hakim Ziyech in the 69th minute.

Just as Al Duhail were settling into their new shape, Al Sadd struck. In the 70th minute, Mostafa Mashaal broke the deadlock with a well-timed one-touch finish after receiving a precise pass from Boualem Khoukhi. The goal sent the home fans into raptures as Al Sadd took control of the match.

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The reigning champions did not take their foot off the gas and continued to pile pressure on Al Duhail’s defense, forcing them to retreat deep into their own half.

.In the 95th minute, Rafa Mujica delivered the final blow, finishing off a well-placed assist from Hassan Al Haydous to make it 2-0.

The result handed Al Sadd a massive victory bringing them within a point of Al Duhail at the top of the standings.