Goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham emerged a hero as Al Sadd edged Morocco's Wydad AC 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time to lift the Al Ahrar Cup at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium Sunday.
The friendly between the two teams was also a pre-cursor for Al Sadd ahead of the Doha Bank Stars League (which begins August 14) and the 2025-26 football season .
The absorbing shootout saw the first nine strikes from either side find the net before Barsham cut off Wydad's final kick diving to his left.
Earlier, Al Sadd took the lead through striker and skipper Akram Afif in the 56th minute from a penalty kick, before Hamza Al Wasti equalized for Wydad in the 67th minute.
The match was at a good technical level from both sides, as Al Sadd took the initiative to attack but collided with an organized defense from Wydad.
Al Sadd's new player, Pau Brem, who has come from Barcelona, made a distinguished appearance in terms of possession, as did the movements of Uruguayan midfielder Agustin Soria, in addition to the penetrations of Algerian Youssef Atal in the midfield.
Wydad's defence imposed strict control on Al Sadd's front two, Akram Afif and Spaniard Rafa Mujica, making it difficult for them to penetrate the penalty area.
Moroccan Nordin Amrabat almost scored from the right side, but Al Sadd defender Pedro blocked his shot in the 30th minute.
Afif responded with an attempt on the right side, but the Moroccan side's defenders succeeded in clearing the ball in the 37th minute.
The score remained goalless until the end of the first half.
In the second session, Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez replaced defender Ahmed Suhail with former Wolfsburg player Paulo Otavio in an attempt to activate the flanks.
Algerian Youssef Atal tried to score from inside the penalty area, but was obstructed by Wydad defender Mohamed Rabhi resulting in a penalty. Afif scored from the spot to give Al Sadd beating goalkeeper Mehdi Ben Abid to his left.
Wydad sought to amend the situation, and an opportunity was available to its Burkinabe player Aziz Ki from a direct free kick from outside the area but Al Sadd goalkeeper Barsham brilliantly cleared the ball away.
Wydad's coach made some changes in midfield, bringing in Hamza Al Wasiti and Brazilian defender Guilherme Ferreira.
Wydad soon equalized with a header from substitute Hamza El Wasti, who capitalized on a cross from teammate Nordin Amrabat from the right. The goal was awarded after a VAR in the 67th minute.
Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos almost put Al Sadd back in the lead with a powerful shot from outside the striking zone but Wydad goalkeeper Ben Obaid saved the situation in the 90th minute.
