Doha, April 18 (QNA) - Al Sadd cruised to their 18th and a second successive Qatar Stars League (QSL) title overpowering Al Ahli 5-0 in a sizzling final Week 22 match of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Friday.

HE President of Qatar Football Association and QSL, Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain and CEO of QSL, Hani Taleb Ballan crowned Al Sadd as champions.

Skipper and striker Akram Afif led the charge for Al Sadd with the opening goal in the 13th minute (Penalty) before Moustafa Tarek (44th minute), Paula Otavio (45+2 minute), Rafa Mujica (67th minute) and Claudinho (81st minute) added more to the scoreline.

The much-needed victory brought ensured Al Sadd lift the coveted Falcon Shield once again, ending the season with 52 points and edging out arch-rivals and title hopefuls Al Duhail, who with 1-0 win against Al Khor ended up on 50 points.

Al Ahli ended up in top four with 35 points.

With Al Sadd needing a win to be sure of the title, they went up the lead early as Al Ahli’s Talal Abdulla Bahzad fouled while trying to tackle an advancing Afif inside the ‘D’ on the right and near the goalline. The referee initially ruled out a foul but a VAR check showed that Bahzad had stepped on the left-foot of Afif and that the latter was not play-acting. Afif soon stepped up and scored coolly from the spot into the left corner.

A determined Al Ahli tried to make amends but in the 21st minute an Abdelrahman Mohammed strike hit the bottom of the left post.

Fourteen minutes later, Moustafa had another chance as he came face to face with Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham, after being put through with the ball, but in trying to lob the ball over Barsham, the player did too much and the ball sailed over the post.

Al Sadd would not give away any more leeway and hit back strongly just ahead of the half-time whistle.

The lead was doubled after a Claudinho long strike was spilled by Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif and a charging in Mashal put the ball into the net.

Al Ahli’s hopes were further dashed within minutes as Otavio deflected home a super Afif cross from the left to make it 3-0.

In the second session, Al Sadd stamped their class and authority further.

Afif again lit up the stadium for his team’s numerous fans as he attempted to score with a left-footed strike in the 66th minute but the kick was well stopped by a diving Sherif. It did not matter as in the very next minute Afif provided Mujica with a fine cross from the right to score (4-0).

Claudinho also joined in the goal-scoring delight as he thumped in a down-headed volley from Paulo Otavio (5-0).

Afif and Mujica ended with 18 goals each, the highest for their team in the league championship. Al Rayyan’s Roger Guedes scored the most, 19 goals. Baghdad Bounedjah of Al Shamal also ended up with 18 goals.