Baghdad Bounedjah
Baghdad Bounedjah struck a terrific seven goals to fire Qatari
giants Al Sadd to a 10-1 routing of Al Arabi in their second successive
emphatic victory on Sunday night.
It was an extraordinary individual display of six second half goals
by the Algerian that followed up a hat-trick he hit in the 6-0
demolition of Al Kharitiyath seven days earlier in the season opener.
With his tally now at an astonishing 10 goals in two games, last
Sunday’s goal-harvest was Bounedjah’s largest haul in one match in his
professional career.
The striker is certainly enjoying the form of his life, having also
top-scored in the Qatar Stars League last season with 24 goals.
Interestingly, Al Arabi have become Bounedjah’s biggest customers
after he struck five goals against them in the 7-0 league thumping last
term.
But it was on Sunday when the former Etoile du Sahel striker was in
sensational mood, opening his account from the penalty spot two minutes
from halftime to help Al Saad take a 2-1 lead after Akram Afif had
scored their first goal.
Bounedjah turned the second half into a one-man show, starting by
firing his second goal just two minutes after the restart, in an outing
in which teammate and former Barcelona captain Xavi lasted the whole
match.
Other goals on the 50th minute, 62, 64, 72 and a minute before full time completed an incredible night for the Algerian.
The result was Al Sadd’s second biggest victory in their history after the 21-0 mauling of Muaither 11 seasons ago.
With such terrific form, Al Sadd might go out of their way to keep
Bounedjah away from a big money move to a European giant, a possibility
this August.
Having last featured for Algeria in June’s international friendly
match against Portugal, Bounedjah is expected to shine for the Desert
Foxes when they resume their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying bid
with a visit to The Gambia next month.