Newcomers Al-Markhiya end Al-Sadd’s unbeaten record in style

Going into the 2022-23 QNB Stars League opener, Al-Sadd were on a 49-match record unbeaten run stretching across more than two seasons.

Despite the absence of 18 players who were called up to the national team camp, there still was a hope that they could keep the run going for a while, considering they would not face some of the big guns of the league until after the World Cup.

However, at the Khalifa International Stadium on opening night, that streak came to a surprising end against promoted Al-Markhiya, who cancelled a 2-0 deficit and took full advantage of the opportunity presented by errors committed by the inexperienced Al-Sadd backline. 

Jugurtha Hamroun, a former Al-Sadd star, rubbed salt into his old side’s wounds by getting a goal and an assist to his name, at the same venue in which he once clinched the Amir Cup for them. 

Iraqi forward Ayman Hussein – a new summer signing from Umm Salal – also starred for Al-Markhiya, with a brace to get his scoring boots firing early on in the season. His first goal was the equaliser which shook Al-Sadd, and the way it transpired generated an early contender for meme of the season.

Goalkeeper Jehad Mohammed completely missed the ball in an attempt to kick away an aerial delivery that he could have easily handled, in a moment that must be watched to be fully understood. His desperate dive towards the line, even after the ball had been tucked in by Ayman, perhaps showed a reflection of the desperation of the Al-Sadd management who have been forced to go with their fourth-choice goalkeeper due to reasons beyond their control. 

Less than a week after that game, Al-Sadd announced the signing of goalkeeper Ivanildo Rodrigues on loan from Al-Ahli until December.

Al-Markhiya’s dream start to the season came despite trailing by two goals to the title holders by the 39th minute. It is a testament to the quality and persistence of Abdullah Mubarak’s side that they ended up turning the tables on their opponents, who despite their depleted squad still featured big names. 

Those names included the 41-year-old evergreen Rodrigo Tabata, who scored the opening goal of what is his 12th season in Qatari football, with a deftly taken free-kick from the edge of the box. But that proved to be the only real highlight from the game for Al-Sadd, who were blown away by a hungrier Al-Markhiya side in the second half.

Santi Cazorla was another big name in Al-Sadd’s lineup; the 37-year-old’s contract was renewed for a third season, despite questions about his form and fitness towards the end of last season. The Spaniard did get a consolation goal in second half stoppage time, but this game really showed how it will be a taxing campaign for the veteran midfielder, at least until after the Qatari internationals return.

Then there was Baghdad Bounedjah, the all-time top scorer of the club who was retained despite sparking controversy a few months ago after speaking out against former coach Javi Gracia’s decision to choose Andre Ayew over him in the AFC Champions League. Against Al-Markhiya, the Algerian started alongside Ayew, and he managed to get on the scoresheet as well, but there is a sense that this season could be the last in Al-Sadd colours for the man from Oran. 

At this point, it seems like all five of Al-Sadd’s foreigners could be set to leave at the end of the season, which the club management foregoing the opportunity to make changes this time, to instead force a complete overhaul in the summer of 2023, ahead of the next AFC Champions League edition for which they have already qualified. 

The story we must focus on is that of Al-Markhiya who have begun the season in the best way possible. The big question is whether they can ensure survival in the top tier at the end of this season, in which two teams are set to be automatically relegated while the 10th placed side will play the promotion-relegation playoff with the second division winner, as the QSL moves to a 10-team format for 2023-24.

We spoke about this challenge to Al-Markhiya’s deputy head of football and development chief Hussein Al-Kubaisi, in an interview which was conducted prior to the start of the season. “The ambition of the club’s management knows no limit,” he told us. “I’ll be lying to you if I say our objective is to just survive in the league.”

What better way then is there for such ambitious people to start the league, than to come from behind and defeat the back-to-back defending champions and end their unbeaten record? Nothing quite like that, we may assume. But then again, this is a side that has punched above their weight on multiple occasions in recent seasons, including the impressive run to the Amir Cup semifinals in 2020, when they knocked out both Al-Gharafa and Al-Rayyan. We’ll have to wait and see how 2022-23 turns out for the men in maroon. It will be interesting.