Mancini Wins Debut as Al Sadd Triumphs While Al Rayyan Climbs Table

Roberto Mancini celebrated a successful start to his tenure as head coach of Al Sadd, leading the team to a 3-1 victory over Al Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League on March 15, 2024. The match showcased the talents of Giovani, who not only scored twice but also provided an assist before receiving a red card in a highly charged performance.

Al Rayyan Secures Second Place

In a separate fixture, Al Rayyan secured a 2-1 win against Umm Salal, elevating them to second place on the league table with 19 points, trailing only the leaders Al Gharafa by six points.

The match at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium saw Giovani open the scoring for Al Sadd in the 18th minute with a precise left-footed strike from the edge of the box. Just three minutes into the second half, he assisted Akram Afif, extending the lead to 2-0. Al Sailiya responded quickly, with Adam Ounas scoring a stunning goal to bring the score to 2-1. However, Giovani restored the two-goal cushion shortly after, finishing accurately into the far corner of the net in the 55th minute.

Giovani’s night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute when he was sent off for violent conduct after elbowing Matias Nani, a decision confirmed by VAR.

Team Resilience and Future Focus

Following the match, Al Sadd defender Ahmed Suhail praised the team’s performance and resilience. He commented, “We achieved a very important victory against a good team in Al Sailiya. 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.”

Suhail emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in the league, stating, “We must keep pushing in the league and win every match to defend our title.” He added that the team showed great determination even after Giovani’s expulsion.

The win propelled Al Sadd to fourth place in the standings, with a total of 17 points. Mancini, appointed earlier this month to address the team’s recent struggles, will now turn his attention to the AFC Champions League campaign, where Al Sadd currently sits in 10th place in the 12-team West Group, with only two points ahead of their upcoming match against Al Wahda in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, at Al Khor Stadium, Al Rayyan took an early lead in their match against Umm Salal thanks to an own goal from Abdulrahman Faiz Al Rashidi in the 15th minute. Captain Oussama Tannane equalized for Umm Salal in the 32nd minute with a superb curling free kick that left goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada unable to respond.

Ultimately, Al Rayyan clinched their sixth victory of the season when Ahmed Alaaeldin scored decisively from the centre of the box ten minutes into the second half. Al Rayyan’s position in second place will face scrutiny today as Al Shamal (18 points) takes on Al Shahania, while Qatar SC (17 points) competes against Al Arabi.