Reigning champions Al Sadd defeated Al Shamal 7-2 in Week 4 of the 2021-2022 season QNB Stars League at the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday.

Ali Asad (10th minute), Baghdad Bounedjah (13th and 89th minutes), Andre Ayew (15th minute), Yousef Abdulrazaq (57th minute) and Rodrigo Tabata (85th minute) scored the goals for Al Sadd, who were also helped by Al Shamal’s Matias Nani’s own goal in the 54th minute.

Mohsen Al Yazidi (12th minute) and Khalifa Saad (87th minute) gave Al Shamal’s reply.

Al Sadd raised their points to 12 with an all-win record, the same as Al Duhail who beat Al Sailiya 5-0 earlier in the day.

Promoted side Al Shamal stood on three points that they collected from their 2-1 victory over Qatar SC in Week 3.

Al Sadd’s other wins were against Al Sailiya (2-0), Qatar SC (3-1) and Al Rayyan (4-2) in the Qatar Clasico, whereas Al Shamal had lost their first two matches (0-2 to Al Gharafa and 2-3 to Al Sailiya).

Al Sadd expectedly dominated Al Shamal in all departments of the game and took the lead through Ali Asad, who was assisted by Akram Afif.

Al Shamal shot back by equalizing a couple of minutes later through Mohsen, with Jeison Escobar providing him with the pass.

Prolific scorer Bounedjah gave back Al Sadd the lead the next minute, with Akram again giving the assist.

New recruit Ayew got into the scorers’ list two minutes later to make it 3-1.

Al Sadd continued their dominance in the second half.

After Nani scored into his own goal in his bid to clear the rebound from the right post following Ayew’s header, Al Sadd struck three more times, with Yousef Abdulrazaq, Tabata and Bounedjah (completing his double) finding the mark.

In between the goals of Tabata and Bounedjah, Khalifa had reduced the margin for Al Shamal by scoring off a counter-attack.