Al Sadd missed their chance to go top of the QSL after Jesualdo Ferreira’s men were held to a 1 -1 draw by league strugglers Al Shahania in yesterday’s early Round 19 fixture at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.
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.
Al Shahania’s manager Igor Stimac came in desperate for three points and his first win with the club as they looked to leapfrog Al Kharaitiyat and escape the relegation zone. Instead they maintained their drawing form, making it four draws from six games.
The game started slowly but Al Sadd’s superiority soon began to show and The Wolves began controlling the game from midfield thanks to their captain, Xavi Hernandez.
With 19 minutes on the clock, Al Sadd’s Baghdad Bounedjah missed a decent opportunity when he out jumped Al Shahania’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 Shahania 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.
However, Al Sadd were unable to find the back of the net and frustration took over.
Al Sadd defender Pedro received his second yellow for clashing with Al Shahania’s Khalifa al-Dosari and was sent to the stands.
Just minutes later, further red cards were shown when Al Sadd’s Ibrahim Majed and Bounedjah, and Al Shahania’s al-Krabbi clashed and a ten-man scuffle ensued on the pitch.
Despite ten minutes of extra time, the match ended 1-1, with Al Sadd missing a golden opportunity to close the gap on Lekhwiya, who play Al Khor today and can extend their lead to five points.

Jaish, Sailiya share points
In the second match of the day, El Jaish and Al Sailiya too shared points after a 1-1 draw.
After a lacklustre start to the game, it was Al Sailiya that eventually made the breakthrough in the 23rd minute, finding the back of the net thanks to a fine goal from Uzbek striker Sanjar Shaakhmedov. Valentin Lazar managed to control a long cross and square a volleyed ball back across the edge of the 18 yard box where Sanjar was making a run. Sanjar hit the ball first time and after taking a minor deflection beat the goalkeeper at his far post to take the lead.
Jaish managed to bag an equaliser right on the stroke of half time thanks to a wonderfully worked goal that started and finished with Yasser Abubakar. After some quick passing, Jaish split Sailiya’s defense wide open and Abubakar was able to receive the ball in the 18 yard box and calmly finish it first time by nutmegging the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 going into the tunnel.
The points means that El Jaish extend their lead over Al Gharafa to six points and look likely to keep their fourth spot. Despite the point Al Sailiya could be drawn back into the relegation battle if Al Kharaitiyat can beat Umm Salal tomorrow.