QNB Stars League: Al-Sadd draw 2-2 with Al-Duhail

Al-Sadd snatched a point from the jaws of defeat, after a last-minute equaliser gave them a 2-2 draw with Al-Duhail in the QNB Stars League summit clash on Saturday. The result means that Al-Sadd’s title crowning was delayed; the Wolves now need to beat Al-Ahli in Round 21 to be confirmed as champions.

Baghdad Bounedjah gave Al-Sadd the lead in the first half, only for Al-Duhail to turn the tables with a brace from Youssef El Arabi in the final quarter of an hour. Eventually, Al-Sadd levelled the scores in the final moments when Murad Naji put the ball past his own keeper.

Akram Afif had the opportunity to put Al-Sadd in the lead in the 14th minute, after the referee awarded a penalty for Mohammed Musa’s foul on Bounedjah. However, Afif’s effort was saved by Al-Duhail keeper Aminte Lecomte.

Bounedjah then went on to give Al-Sadd the breakthrough in the 26th minute, tapping in after a give-and-go with Afif. Al-Sadd’s lead would last until halftime, as they looked comfortable and confident of scoring more.

In the second half, the momentum changed and Al-Duhail began to threaten repeatedly. The pressure eventually paid off with El Arabi finishing past Al-Dosari in the 75th minute after picking up a pass from Medhi Benatia.

Ten minutes later, Al-Duhail were awarded a penalty when Ali Afif was brought down in the box by Hamed Ismail. El Arabi stepped up and converted the spot-kick to put Al-Duhail in front.

However, Al-Sadd had another say and it came in the last minute of added time, when an aerial ball into the area went in past the Al-Duhail keeper after deflecting off Murad Naji.

MATCH DETAILS

Al-Sadd x Al-Duhail (QNB Stars League Round 20)

Venue:

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium

Lineups:

Al-Sadd: Saad Al-Dosari, Pedro Miguel, Xavi (Jung Woo-young), Hassan Al-Haydos, Bounedjah, Hamid Ismail, Gabi, Tareq Salman, Khoukhi Boualem, Salem Al-Hajri (Ali Asad), Akram Afif

Al-Duhail: Lecomte Amine, Mohammed Musa (Murad Naji), Medhi Benatia, Ahmed Yasser, Luiz Mairton (Bassam Al-Rawi), Youssef El Arabi, Shoya Nakajima, Karim Boudiaf, Edmilson, Sultan Al-Braik (Ali Afif), Almoez Ali

Result:

2-2

Goals:

Baghdad Bounedjah 26′

Youssef El Arab 75′, 85′

Murad Naji 90+4′ (OG)

Bookings:

Shoya Nakajima 4′

Pedro Miguel 24′

Tareq Salman 45′

Almoez Ali 60′

Baghdad Bounedjah 84′

Medhi Benatia 87′

Referees:

Match referee: Abdulrahman Al-Jassim
Linesman 1: Mohammed Dharman
Linesman 2: Taleb Salem
Fourth official: Jamal Hussain