Al-Sadd settled for a goalless draw with Al-Wakrah in their Expo Stars League Round 14 game which was played at Al-Janoub Stadium on Sunday.
The result saw Al-Sadd maintain their lead at the top of the table with a tally of 32 points.
The match commenced with both teams displaying enthusiasm and determination. The initial ten minutes saw no significant goal-scoring opportunities, with both defenses holding firm.
As the game progressed, Khoukhi Boualem’s powerful shot in the 30th minute was deflected out, resulting in a corner kick.
Baghdad Bounedjah then thought he had scored a goal in the 36th minute; however, the effort was disallowed by the referee due to an offside decision.
The second half saw Al-Sadd making strategic substitutions, bringing on Akram Afif and Hassan Al-Haydos for Mustafa Tarek and Gonzalo Plata. Despite intensifying their offensive efforts, Al-Sadd couldn’t break the deadlock. Guilherme Torres’ powerful shot went just wide of the post in the 49th minute.
In the 70th minute, Al-Sadd was awarded a penalty after Hamdi Fathi handled the ball in Al-Wakrah’s box. However, Akram Afif failed to convert the opportunity, with his effort from the spot going over the crossbar.
Al-Wakrah goalkeeper Saoud Al-Khater was then sent off in the 76th minute, for a professional foul outside the box on Akram Afif, who was racing through towards the goal.
Al-Sadd immediately sent on Ali Asad in place of Yousuf Abdurisag, but despite their best efforts and the numerical disparity, the scoreline did not change and the match concluded with a goalless draw.
