El Jaish's Mohamed Methnani (left) and Al Shahaniya's Nabeel Anwar vie for the ball pocession during their Qatar Stars League game played at Lekhwiya Stadium yesterday.
A late strike by Mohsine Moutaouali, yesterday helped Al Wakrah snatch a point against former Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Al Sadd.
Hosts Al Wakrah, trailing by a goal following a strike by Al Sadd's Hamroun Jugurtha (60), drew level with a hotly debated 90th minute penalty by Moutaouali.
It was Al Sadd's third draw of the season though the side - coached by Jesualdo Ferreira - are unbeaten in seven matches.
In the 6th minute, Al Wakrah's Hamood Abdulla Al Yazidi broke free off his marker and charged into the Al Sadd box in what the first serious attempt at either goal.
In a hurried attempt at Al Sadd goal, Al Yazidi fired a bullet towards the net but goalkeeper Saad Abdulla Al Dosari punched the ball away.
Playing in all-white, Al Sadd looked tad edgy with hosts Al Wakrah mounting attacks on the former QSL champions in the first 10 minutes of the round 7 clash at Al Wakrah Stadium.
The momentum swung towards Al Sadd soon afterwards. In the 15th minute, Al Sadd's Pedro Miguel Correia charged into Al Wakrah box from the flank before slipping in a neat ball to Baghdad Bounedjah.
Stationed inside Al Wakrah box, the 24-year-old Algerian deflected the ball over the crossbar with home goalkeeper Mohmad Abdulla Enyas well beaten.
Two minutes later, Al Sadd midfielder Abdulkareem Hassan showed brilliant pace to beat his marker and charged into the Al Wakrah box.
Once in the box, Hassan - the Qatar Under-23 team captain - fired a powerful shot that was well pouched by goalkeeper Enyas.
In the 33rd minute, Hassan missed an easy snap-header off a free kick when he jumped high to meet the ball but did not connect with only Al Wakrah goalkeeper to beat from close range. Three minutes later, Bounedjah curled in a sweetly-taken free-kick but his shot sailed close to the Al Wakrah crossbar much to the relief of the home fans.
In the 53rd minute, Mahir Yusuf Bakur - chased by Miguel and Morteza Mohammad Jan Pour - charged into the Al Sadd box and fired a missile in the direction of the goal but Al Sadd 'keeper Al Dosari punched the ball away to kill Al Wakrah's best chance to score.
Barely two minutes later, Barca legend Xavi showed his frustration at lack of scoring opportunities by smashing a long-range shot that was easily pouched by goalkeeper Enyas.
At the half-hour mark, Al Sadd drew first blood. Jugurtha fired home from close range after a loose ball dropped dead in front of him following a goal-line melee after an indirect free-kick. It was Jugurtha's second goal of the season that came at the right time for Al Sadd. In the 65th minute, Al Wakrah's 82 Ahmad Ali Khil had only the goalkeeper to beat from the edge of the box but he shot wide of Al Dosari.
In a dramatic turn of events, Moutaouali converted a penalty in the 90th minute. Moutaouali chose to go left of Al Dosari as Al Wakrah snatched a point in the dying moments of the game.
Later, Al Rayyan and Lekhwiya settled in for a 2-2 draw at the Lekhwiya Stadium.
