Al Sadd’s Title Hopes Dented by Shock Loss to Qatar SC

Defending champions Al Sadd suffered a significant setback in their Qatar Stars League title chase after a stunning 0-1 defeat to Qatar SC at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday. An 83rd-minute own goal by Romain Saiss handed Qatar SC a vital victory, while Al Sadd remain third in the standings, four points adrift of leaders Al Duhail.

Al Sadd dominated the early stages, with Akram Afif nearly opening the scoring in the seventh minute, only for an offside call to thwart his effort. Qatar SC gradually gained momentum, with Ataa Jaber and Carlinhos coming close in the first half. Despite their attacking intent, both sides went into halftime goalless after a lively 45 minutes.

In the second half, Al Sadd pressed for a breakthrough, with Giovani testing goalkeeper Sataa Al-Abbasi two minutes after the restart. Afif missed a golden opportunity in the 69th minute, directing a header straight into Al-Abbasi’s hands.

The decisive moment came in the 83rd minute when Saiss, attempting to clear a corner kick, inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, giving Qatar SC the lead. Al Sadd fought desperately for an equaliser, and Saiss appeared to make amends in stoppage time with a stunning strike, but the goal was ruled offside.

A crucial save by Al-Abbasi in the dying moments denied Tareq Salman, sealing Qatar SC’s victory. “We played a good match and applied pressure on the opponent from the start,” said Qatar SC midfielder Ahmed Abdel Kader. “I hope this victory will be a new beginning for Qatar SC.”

Al Duhail Held by Resilient Al Rayyan

Earlier on Thursday, league leaders Al Duhail missed an opportunity to widen the gap at the top after being held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Al Rayyan at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium. Despite losing Abdulaziz Hatem to a red card for a tackle on Almoez Ali in the 54th minute, Al Rayyan’s defence held firm against Duhail’s persistent attacks.

The closest chance for a breakthrough came in the 89th minute when Diallo fired a powerful shot, only for Rayyan goalkeeper Sami Baladi to make a crucial save. Earlier, Mahmoud Trezeguet’s early effort was denied by Duhail’s Salah Zakaria, while Michael Olunga’s powerful shot in the 15th minute was also saved by Baladi.

Al Duhail now sit just two points ahead of second-placed Al Gharafa, with Al Sadd trailing by four points. Meanwhile, Qatar SC’s victory lifts them to 13 points, still in the relegation zone but just one point behind seventh-placed Al Shahania in a tightly contested mid-table.

With the season heating up, the battle for the Qatar Stars League title and survival in the relegation zone is intensifying.