Mehrdad Mohammadi last-gasp goal rescued Al Arabi a point against Al Wakrah after a 2-2 draw in the QNB Stars League at the Qatar SC Stadium yesterday.
Al Wakrah were helped by an own goal by Al Arabi’s Khalaf Sadd in the 59th minute, before Mohammadi scored in the 73rd minute. Wakrah again took the lead through Mohamed Benyettou in the 88th minute, but Mohammadi’s strike in the 90+5 minute ensured Arabi walked away with a point. Wakrah and Arabi now have seven and five points respectively.
Just like they pulled off a 2-1 victory over Umm Salal right at the death last week, Arabi this time earned a well-fought draw with a stoppage-time goal that came in the form of a penalty. Arabi were without their key players, such as Hamdi Harbaoui, Mohamed Salah El Neel, Sebastian Soria and Mahdi Torabi who all were nursing injuries.
In the first half, Benyettou had his header off Murad Naji cross hit the crossbar, while Arabi struggled to make inroads without their mainstays. The match came to life in the second half.  Arabi went into deficit when Khalaf’s clearance of a Benyettou cross from the right landed in his own net.
The Dream Team drew parity when Wakrah goalkeeper Saoud al-Khater fumbled with collection of Mehrdad’s angular shot and the ball rolled into the goal. Al Wakrah surged ahead for a second time when Benyettou placed home a rebound from the left post following Omar Ali’s shot. When it looked like Wakrah were winning came Arabi’s second equaliser, with Mehrdad converting from the spot. 

Mahmoud’s goal gives 
Umm Salal first win
Later, Ismail Mahmoud netted the all-important goal in the 57th minute as Umm Salal beat Qatar SC 1-0.  It was Umm Salal’s first victory and took their points tally to four.
Going into the match, Umm Salal, under the tutelage of their former defender Aziz Ben Askar, had only one point, whereas Qatar SC, coached by former Qatar international midfielder Younis Ali, remained on three points. A revamped Umm Salal side put up an improved performance.
Brazilian forward Kayke Rodriguez made his debut for Umm Salal, that too against his former team Qatar SC. And he was instrumental in their goal as he crossed the ball from the right for Ismail to glide it in. The first half saw both teams create chances, but for a goal.
Umm Salal’s Abdennour Belhocini skied the ball in the 22nd minute with only goalkeeper Motasem Majed in front. Ismail too made his contribution. At the other end, attempts by Qatar SC’s Hamed Ismail and Abdulaziz Adel did not fetch results. Both teams upped their ante in the second half and Umm Salal took the lead close to the hour mark.  
Stung by the deficit, The Kings desperately tried for an equaliser, but The Orange Fortress held fort.