Al Sadd's Baghdad Bounedjah (11) scores against Al Shahaniya during their QSL match at Al Sadd Stadium yesterday.
Al Sadd missed coveted points at the Qatar Stars League (QSL) after Jesaldo Ferriera’s men were held to a 1 -1 draw by league strugglers Al Shahaniya at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.
Al Sadd came into the match with the added boost of welcoming three key players back into the squad, with Khalfan Ibrahim, Hassan Haydoos and Morteza Pouraliganji all returning to the first team and starting on the bench.
With 19 minutes on the clock, Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah missed a decent opportunity when he out jumped Al Shahaniya’s defence to connect with a Xavi free kick but put his head well over the bar.
Bounedjah made amends just minutes later though when he found the back of the net to make it 1-0 after getting between Al Shahania’s centre-backs and connecting with a pinpoint cross from the right wing, heading it down and towards the back post and leaving the goalkeeper with little chance.
The tide began to turn as Al Shahaniya stepped up a gear in their hunt for an equaliser. Their pressure paid off when they made it 1-1 on the 36th minute after a training ground free kick routine caught Al Sadd’s defense by surprise and Mohanad Darjal picked up the ball in the 18 yard box and hammered it in with his right from just six yards out to level the score.
The second half lacked any serious action until Al Sadd sprang to life on the 60th minute when they had a decent spell of possession that saw a number of goal scoring opportunities come and go. After more than ten minutes of extra time it finished 1-1 with Al Sadd missing a golden opportunity to close the gap on Lekhwiya.
In other match yesterday, El Jaish and Al Sailiya were also locked in a 1-1 stalemate at Lekhwiya Club.
