DOHA: Title contenders Al Sadd yesterday dropped points when they were held to a fighting 2-2 draw by Umm Salal in round two of the Qatar Stars League (QSL).
Umm Salal grabbed the lead through Yannick Anister Latte who found the net in the 17th minute as the visitors put pressure on the hosts at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
After failing to break their duck in the first half of the feisty encounter, Al Sadd found their saviour in new signing Barcelona legend Xavi who deflected the ball into the Umm Salal net in the 62nd minute.
Three minutes later, Al Sadd took the lead through Musab Keder who slipped one past goalkeeper Baba Malick from close range.
However, Umm Salal refused to give up and produced the equaliser through Latte’s slick pass to Nasser Saleh who smashed the ball into the Al Sadd net from close range.
Umm Salal defended stoutly for the remainder of the game as the match ended in a 2-2 draw under lights.
In the day’s second match, visitors Al Ahli relied on a Meshael Abdulla double to beat home side Al Wakrah 2-1.
Mubarak scored in the 40th minute and then fired another goal in the 56th minute.
For the hosts, Jorge Sebastian scored a goal off a penalty in the 24th minute
In today’s matches, Al Kharaitiyat host Al Rayyan at Al Khor Stadium while Al Gharafa are at home to Mesaimeer.
In the third game of the night, El Jaish host Al Sailiya at Lekhwiya Stadium.
In tomorrow’s clashes, Al Arabi take on Al Khor at Grand Hamad Stadium while QSL defending champions Lekhwiya play their first match this season against Qatar SC at Lekhwiya Stadium.
Lekhwiya did not play any QSL game last week as the champions were busy preparing for their AFC Champions League clash against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal drew 2-2 to go through to the AFC Champions League semi-finals. THE PENINSULA
QSL Results
Round 2
DOHA: Qatar Stars League (QSL) matches played in the second round yesterday.
Al Sadd 2 draw with
Umm Salal 2 at Jassim Bin Hamad
Al Wakrah vs Al Ahli at
Saoud Bin Abdel Rahman
QSL Fixtures
Today
6:00pm Al Kharaitiyat vs
Al Rayyan at Al Khor Stadium
6:00pm Al Gharafa vs
Mesaimeer at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium
8:15pm El Jaish vs
Al Sailiya at Abdullah Bin Khalifah Stadium
Tomorrow
6:00pm Al Arabi vs
Al Khor at Grand Hamad Stadium
8:15pm Lekhwiya vs Qatar SC at Abdullah Bin Khalifah Stadium
