Holders Al Sadd defeated Al Sailiya 2-0 in Week 12 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium on Monday.

Akram Afif scored the goals for Al Sadd in the 42nd (penalty) and 62nd minutes.

With this victory, leaders Al Sadd have 31 points with an unbeaten record. They have played one game less as their Week 11 fixture against Al Wakrah got postponed as many Al Wakrah players were infected with coronavirus.

Al Sailiya are now in deep trouble as they stood at the bottom of the table with five points.

Al Sailiya almost scored a goal early in the game through Ramin Rezaian, but the Iranian’s goal was ruled out through VAR.

Al Sadd responded quickly with a strong shot by Hassan Al Haydous, but it was cleared by the Al Sailiya defence.

Al Sadd controlled most of the match and the trio of Andre Ayew, Guilherme Torres and Santi Cazorla was in attack mode, but Al Sailiya withstood the offensives.

Meanwhile, they tried to threaten Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshal Barshim, with Ramin at the forefront.

Akram gave Al Sadd the lead through a penalty, awarded when Ayew was fouled by Al Sailiya defender Ali Jasemi.

Al Sadd intensified pressure on the Al Sailiya goal at the beginning of the second half, and Al Haydous almost added the second goal in the 56th minute following a cross by Guillerme. Al Haydous headed the ball, but Al Sailiya goalkeeper Claude Amine saved it conceding a corner.

Al Sadd pressed the duo Baghdad Bounedjah and Ali Asad to intensify their offence and Akram did the scoring act again after the hour mark. The move also involved Cazorla, Al Haydous and Bounedjah, and Akram dribbled the ball around the goalkeeper and a defender before putting it into the net.

Stung by a two-goal deficit, Al Sailiya pressed hard to reduce the margin. Al Sadd too did the same to increase the margin, but for further goals.