Al-Sadd settled for a 1-1 draw with Umm Salal in the QNB Stars League Round 2 game that was played on Tuesday at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Umm Salal took the lead through Joao Teixeira in the second minute of stoppage time, before Baghdad Bounedjah equalised for Al-Sadd in the 63rd minute. The result meant that the Wolves picked up their first point, following the opening round defeat to Al-Markhiya.
The match got off to a slow start, with neither side threatening early on. The first real chance for Al-Sadd came in the 12th minute, with Abdullah Al-Yazidi’s powerful shot from the left that flew over the crossbar.
Five minutes later, Umm Salal’s Abdullah Khafifi was sent off for a handball incident that was confirmed after a VAR review. The defender had blocked the ball with his hand, while trying to prevent Andre Ayew from reaching it.
Playing with the numerical advantage, Al-Sadd looked to make the breakthrough and created multiple opportunities but failed to get the finishing touch. Rodrigo Tabata, Santi Cazorla and Ahmed Al-Saeed all came close to netting the opening goal.
Umm Salal then broke the deadlock in the second minute of stoppage time, when Portuguese attacker Joao Teixeira headed in past Jehad Mohammed.
After returning from the halftime break, Al-Sadd put pressure on Umm Salal as they went in search of the equaliser but struggled to break down their opponent’s defence.
Al-Sadd coach Juanma Lillo made his first change in the 60th minute, sending on Hassan Ahmed in place of Al-Saeed.
Three minutes later, Al-Sadd levelled the score through Algerian foward Bounedjah, who struck a powerful effort from outside the box, which flew in past the Umm Salal keeper Sami Habib.
Towards the end, the Wolves were able to fashion more chances but were unable to convert them and the match went on to finish in a stalemate.
MATCH DETAILS
Al-Sadd x Umm Salal (2022-23 QNB Stars League Round 2)
Venue:
Khalifa International Stadium
Lineups:
Al-Sadd: Jehad Mohammed, Bahaa Mamdouh, Jung Woo-young, Abdulrahman Bakri, Guilherme Torres, Abdulla Al-Yazidi (Mouaz Gad), Santi Cazorla, Rodrigo Tabata, Baghdad Bounedjah, Ahmed Al-Saeed, (Hassan Ahmed), Andre Ayew,
Umm Salal: Sami Habib, Omar Yahya, Osama Ibrahim, Abdullah Khafifi, Sardor Rashidov, Joao Teixeira, Khaled Abdulrauf, Dries Saddiki, Jonathan Kodjia, Yousuf Umer, Abdulrahman Fayez
Result:
1-1
Goals:
Joao Teixeira 45+2′
Baghdad Bounedjah 63′
Bookings:
Abdullah Khafifi 17′ (RED CARD)
Jung Woo-young 43′
Sami Habib 90′
Referees:
Saoud Al-Athba (main referee)
Khaled Ayed (assistant 1)
Nasser Al-Dos (assistant 2)
Mohammed Al-Shareef (fourth official)
