AFC Champions League: Al-Sadd held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Duhail

Al-Sadd were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Duhail in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16, which was played at the Al-Janoub Stadium on Tuesday evening.

In Xavi’s first official game as manager, Akram Afif gave Al-Sadd the lead in the 30th minute before Youssef Msakni equalised for Al-Duhail a minute before halftime.

The teams now go into the second leg looking to secure a result that will take them to the quarterfinals. The match will be played at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on August 13.

Al-Sadd began the game on the front foot and had a number of opportunities in the first quarter of the hour. Akram Afif’s sixth minute shot was saved by Claude Amine and Baghdad Bounedjah saw his shot go over the bar in the 11th minute.

In the 30th minute, Afif controlled an aerial pass from Nam Tae-hee and cut in from the left, before sending a low shot past Amine to give Al-Sadd the lead.

The Wolves then had a chance to double the advantage in the 40th minute, with Afif getting into the box but his squared ball to Bounedjah went across and past the striker.

A minute before halftime, Al Duhail levelled the scores through Msakni. The ball fell at the feet of Tunisian international on the edge of the box, and his fierce shot went in past Saad Al Dosari.

Both teams battled it out at the beginning the second half, looking to get in front but proper chances were few in number. Al-Sadd’s Jung Woo-young had a go at goal from outside the box in the 58th minute, but Amine was on hand to save.

Xavi made his first substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Hashim Ali in place of debutant Nam Tae-hee. At the same time, Al-Duhail brought on Mohanad Ali to replace Mohammed Muntari.

Al-Sadd then had a good chance in the 70th minute, when Al-Haydos played in a dangerous ball but Hashim and Bounedjah collided into each other and could not convert.

The two teams tried to break the deadlock as the match headed towards full time, but were unable to do so. Al-Sadd had a penalty appeal deep into stoppage time when the ball seemed to hit Bassam Al Rawi’s hand in the box, but the referee refused to award it. The game thus went on to end 1-1.

MATCH DETAILS:

Al-Sadd x Al-Duhail (AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg)

Venue:

Al-Janoub Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al Dosari, Abdelkarim Hassan, Tarek Salman, Jung Woo-young, Pedro, Salem Al-Hajri, Gabi, Nam Tae-hee (Hashim Ali), Hassan Al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Baghdad Bounedjah

Al-Duhail: Claude Amine, Mohammed Mousa, Medhi Benatia (Bassam Al-Rawi), Ahmed Yasser, Luiz Mairton, Mohammed Muntari (Mohanad Ali), Assim Madibo, Edmilson, Almoez Ali, Ali Afif, Youssef Msakni (Karim Boudiaf)

Result:

1 – 1

Goals:

30′ Akram Afif
44′ Youssef Msakni