Afif stars as Al Sadd edge Al Rayyan in gripping Qatar Clasico
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Newly crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif came off the bench to fire a late winner and provide an assist as Al Sadd rallied to ed...
Doha, Qatar: Newly-crowned Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif came off the bench to fire a late winner and provide an assist as Al Sadd rallied to edge Al Rayyan 2-1 in a high-octane Qatar Clasico clash in Doha on Thursday.
The Qatari playmaker, celebrated by Al Sadd and its fans for winning the prestigious continental award for second time ahead of kick off at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, turned the game around for the Wolves after being introduced at the hour mark.
Al Rayyan claimed a well-deserved lead in the 67th minute when Mahmoud Ahmed Hassan (Trezeguet) broke the deadlock.
However, Felix Sanchez’s side responded just two minutes later, with Afif setting up Mohammed Waad for the equaliser. Afif then sealed the win in the 89th minute with a goal confirmed by VAR after initially being ruled offside.
