AL KHOR, Qatar (Interstat) — Substitute Akram Afif scored twice and fellow reserve Roberto Firmino added another as Al Sadd opened its Stars League campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Al Sailiya on Wednesday at Al Bayt Stadium.

The visiting Wolves, heavily favored pre-match, needed a second-half spark from their bench to secure the three points and begin the Qatari domestic season with a win.

Al Sadd, projected by Interstat’s ELO system with a 78.4 percent probability to win, controlled possession for long stretches of the first half but struggled to break down a resolute Al Sailiya defense. The breakthrough finally came from an unexpected source just before halftime. Introduced earlier in the half, Afif announced his arrival in the 40th minute, finishing a move to give the visitors a 1-0 lead they would take into the break.

Any hope of an Al Sailiya comeback was extinguished shortly after the restart. Afif struck again in the 48th minute, doubling Al Sadd’s advantage and effectively putting the game out of reach. The goal confirmed the predictions of Interstat’s game simulator, which had projected a 2-1 final score, though Al Sadd would go on to exceed that margin.

The home side’s frustration grew as the match wore on, with Al Sadd’s Rafa Mújica receiving a yellow card in the 22nd minute and Al Sailiya’s Hashim Ali booked in the 59th. Al Sadd continued to press and found a third goal in the 70th minute through another substitute. Firmino, entering the fray alongside Afif, found the net to make it 3-0 and seal the result.

Al Sailiya managed a consolation goal in the 80th minute through Anwar El Ghazi, denying Al Sadd a clean sheet but doing little to change the match’s trajectory. The final whistle confirmed a dominant opening-night performance for the visitors.

The victory gives Al Sadd a perfect start to the Stars League season, moving its record to 1-0-0, while Al Sailiya begins its campaign with a loss at 0-0-1. The records across all competitions for both clubs mirror their league starts.

Afif’s impactful two-goal performance off the bench was the clear catalyst for the win, with Firmino’s goal providing additional insurance. The assists on the goals came from Hashim Ali and Rafa Mújica, both credited with one assist apiece in the victory.

The match, played under the lights at the World Cup venue in Al Khor, showcased Al Sadd’s superior depth and firepower, which proved too much for a determined but ultimately overmatched Al Sailiya side.