Al Shamal defeated reigning champions Al Sadd 2-1 in Week 1 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan club on Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Former Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah was the star of the day with his two goals (31st and 74th minutes) for his new club, while Al Sadd’s lone reply came courtesy of an own goal from Colombian professional Jeison Murillo in the 89th minute.

There was nothing much separating the two sides for the better part of first half as they kept each other at bay from any untoward incursion into the dangerous area of their end, with much of the action restricted to the midfield area of the field.

After much back and forth on both ends, Al Sadd's Ali Asad nearly got his side the opening goal in the 26th minute after a goal-mouth melee, but his effort was deflected wide.

Three minutes later, it was the turn of Al Shamal to make an attempt at goal following Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barshim’s feeble clearance that fell into the path of Al Shamal’s attacking midfielder Mahdi Salem, but his shot went over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

As is often the case in matches of a similar nature, Al Shamal captain Bounedjah came back to haunt his former club after finishing off a Younes Belhanda’s well-placed pass, following another defensive error from The Wolves in the 31st minute to give coach Nuno Almeida’s side the lead.

As a mark of respect for his former club, the Algerian international’s celebration was muted, but that did not deter their teeming fans from celebrating.

The goal was the only thing separating the two sides as the referee blew for the end of first half.

It was a resurgent Al Sadd that came out of the dugout for the second half with a determination to overturn the deficit as quickly as possible and balance things up with a view to getting away with a maximum points. But the resolute Al Shamal side, propelled by their lead and the new forces in attack, stood their ground as they matched coach Felix Sanchez’s side pound for pound.

In the 62nd minute, Al Sadd got a chance at redemption through new signing Rafa Mujica, but the Spaniard’s effort, which went through the legs of goalkeeper Babacar Seck, was ruled offside.

Goal merchant Bounedjah turned up for his club again in the 74th minute after latching on to a precise pass from Murillo to fire home from the right hand side of Al Sadd’s 18-yard box as Al Shamal doubled their lead, much to the consternation of rival fans.

Al Sadd got the deficit reduced in the 89th minute, albeit through an own goal, as Murillo unwittingly directed his header from an Akram Afif corner kick into his own net to the bewilderment of his teammates and fans.

The Wolves could have restored parity in the first minute of added time after substitute Giovani Henrique had his shot deflected into the path of Yusuf Abdurisag, who had only the net in front of him, but his shot instead went flying high.

Another chance came begging in the eighth minute of added time, with two-goal hero Bounedjah being adjudged to have hacked down Al Sadd defender Pedro Miguel in the 18-yard box. The resultant penalty kick, which came after a VAR check, was, however, missed by Afif, with goalkeeper Seck guessing right as he parried the ball into a corner kick.

The corner kick was virtually the last major effort from Al Sadd as Al Shamal withstood their ground and ran away with the maximum points in their opening match of the new season.