2-2 draw in the derby between Al-Sadd & Al-Arabi
2-2 draw in the derby between Al-Sadd & Al-Arabi
31 Oct 2015
Al-Sadd and Al-Arabi played out a 2-2 draw in their Qatar Stars League Round 7 clash at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium. The result meant Al-Sadd raised their points tally to 15 points and remained in third place in the league table.
Abdulkarim Hassan opened the scoring for Al-Sadd in the 14th minute before Paulinho equalized for Al-Arabi in the 18th minute. The first half ended 1-1 and after the restart, Al-Arabi captain Khoukhi Boualem was sent off in the 54th minute. Al-Arabi then took the lead through Paulinho in the 64th minute before Muriqui equalized through a penalty in the 81st minute.
Exciting start and Saddawi pressure
With the start of the match, Al-Sadd put pressure on their opponents straightaway. Ibrahim Majid and Hassan al-Haydos had two headers aimed at the Al-Arabi goal in the 6th and 8th minutes, with the latter especially dangerous. Al-Sadd players maintained an organized presence in the middle of the park and were able to move the ball around well. In the 11th minute, Nadir Belhadj sent a powerful shot across the face of the goal but it was not converted.
Abdulkarim gives the lead to Al-Sadd, Paulinho equalizes
In the 14th minute, Abdulkarim Hassan scored with a header after a Xavi cross to open the scoring for Al-Sadd. Al-Arabi found a quick reply and Paulinho was able to strike the equalizer for them in the 18th minute.
Caution dominates; Al-Sadd keep trying
Some amount of tension took over the match after the equaliser, although Al-Sadd kept trying to score while Al-Arabi remained defensive and depended upon counter-attacks. In the 41st minute, Belhadj penetrated the defence and sent a shot that went just over the bar. A few minutes later, the referee blew to signal the end of the first half.
Good start to the second half; Khoukhi sent off
The second half kicked off in an attacking manner as both sides looked to score. In the 51st minute, Al-Arabi captain Khoukhi Boualem was sent off after being shown a straight red card for a tackle on Al-Sadd striker Muriqui who was going to go one-one with the keeper.
Al-Arabi lead through Paulinho
Al-Arabi then managed to score again despite the numerical disadvantage. In the 64th minute, Paulinho was able to successfully dribble past the Al-Sadd defence and sent a composed shot past Muhannad Naim to score the second for himself and his team. Five minutes later, Al-Sadd made their first change, with Hamza al-Sanhaji coming on for Ibrahim Majid.
Musab replaces Khalfan; Muriqui equalises
Al-Sadd made another change in the 74th minute when Khalfan Ibrahim was taken off for Musab Khodr who went on to play in the right back position and Al-Haydos went further up front. In the 81st minute, Al-Sadd was able to get the equaliser through Muriqui who scored from a penalty, which was awarded after Xavi was fouled in the box. It was the last goal of the game and it finally ended 2-2.
Match details
Al-Sadd v Al-Arabi (Qatar Stars League Round 7)
Venue: Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Lekhwiya Club
Al-Sadd XI: Muhannad Naim, Ibrahim Majid (Hamza al-Sanhaji), Abdulkarim Hassan, Mohammed Kasola, Nadir Belhadj, Talal al-Baloushi, Xavi, Ali Asad, Khalfan Ibrahim (Musab Khodr), Hassan al-Haydos, Muriqui
Al-Arabi XI: Masoud Zeraei, Rod Fanni, Adel Lami (Dame Traore), Ali Jasemi, Musab Mahmoud, Boualem Khoukhi, Omar al-Emadi (M. Shabaan), Abdullah Mubarak, Paulo Sergio, Ashkan Dejagah, Junior Dutra (Abdulla Marafee)
Result: Al-Sadd 2-2 Al-Arabi
Goals:
14* Abdulkarim Hassan (Al-Sadd)
18* Paulo Sergio (Al-Arabi)
64* Paulo Sergio (Al-Arabi)
81* Muriqui (Al-Sadd)
Bookings:
Yellow: 20* Ibrahim Majid (Al-Sadd), 67* Talal al-Baloushi (Al-Sadd), 79* Ashkan Dejagah (Al-Arabi), 80* Masoud Zeraei (Al-Arabi)
Red: 53* Khoukhi Boualem (Al-Arabi)
Referees
Viktor Kassai (Main referee)
Vencel Toth (Linesman)
Ring Gyorgy (Linesman)
Khamis al-Kuwari (Fourth official)
Sayed Shareef (Additional referee)
Hussain Shuwaykh (Additional referee)