Mancini’s Winning Debut as Al Sadd Triumphs in QSL Action

Roberto Mancini marked a successful start as head coach of Al Sadd, leading the team to a 3-1 victory over Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League on October 21, 2023. Giovani emerged as the standout performer, scoring twice, assisting another goal, and receiving a red card during a dramatic match.

In a parallel fixture, Al Rayyan secured a 2-1 win against Umm Salal, climbing to second place in the league standings with 19 points, six points behind leaders Al Gharafa.

Giovani’s Impactful Performance

At Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, the match began with an explosive start as Giovani netted the opening goal in the 18th minute, delivering a precise left-footed strike from just inside the box. Shortly into the second half, he assisted Akram Afif, who doubled Al Sadd’s lead in the 48th minute.

Al Sailiya responded quickly, with Adam Ounas scoring a stunning goal to narrow the deficit. However, Giovani quickly restored the two-goal advantage with another precise finish in the 55th minute.

The Brazilian’s evening took a turn for the worse in the 64th minute when he received a red card for elbowing Matias Nani, with video assistant referee (VAR) confirming the violent conduct.

Ahmed Suhail, a defender for Al Sadd, praised the team’s resilience following the match. “We achieved a very important victory against a good team in Al Sailiya,” he stated. “The new coach is trying to adjust the technical aspects, and although we wasted many chances, we are working to restore the full picture of Al Sadd. We must keep pushing in the league and win every match to defend our title.”

He added, “Al Sailiya were strong competitors, and even after Giovani’s expulsion, the players gave everything. We hope to continue progressing after the break.”

With this victory, Al Sadd moved to fourth place in the league with 17 points. Mancini, appointed earlier this month to revive the team’s fortunes, now shifts focus to their upcoming challenge in the AFC Champions League.

Al Rayyan’s Strong Performance

Meanwhile, at Al Khor Stadium, Al Rayyan took an early lead in their match against Umm Salal when Abdulrahman Faiz Al Rashidi inadvertently turned a cross from Roger Guedes into his own net in the 15th minute. Umm Salal’s captain, Oussama Tannane, equalized with a superb curling free kick in the 32nd minute, leaving the Al Rayyan goalkeeper, Mahmud Abunada, with no chance to save.

The decisive moment came 10 minutes into the second half when Ahmed Alaaeldin scored for Al Rayyan, securing their sixth victory of the season. This win solidifies Al Rayyan’s grip on second place, with their position likely to be challenged as Al Shamal, currently on 18 points, faces Al Shahania, and Qatar SC meets Al Arabi later today.

The ongoing season of the Qatar Stars League continues to showcase intense competition, with teams vying for crucial points as the matches unfold.