Qatar SC held table toppers A Duhail to a 1-1 draw in Week 15 of the 2018-19 season QNB Stars League on Friday.
Osama Omari put Qatar SC ahead in the 22nd minute, a lead that was neutralised by Al Duhail’s Murad Naji in the 75th. Both goals came off free-kicks.
Al Duhail took their points tally to 36 and Qatar SC 15.
It was the third time that holders Al Duhail were dropping points this season. Nevertheless, they maintained their unbeaten run, the only team to do so.
Cameroonian star Samuel Eto’o returned to the Qatar SC fold and that strengthened their attack, with Osama and Hussein Ali contributing to the team’s cause.
Al Duhail continued to miss South Korean midfielder Nam Tae-Hee, who got injured while doing duty for his country during the last international break.
Qatar SC matched Al Duhail ball by ball and even shocked the hosts by taking the lead.
Goalkeeper Khalifa Aboobacker completely misjudged the flight of the ball after Osama took the free-kick from the left. Neither did the defenders do anything about it. The free-kick was awarded when Al Duhail defender Murad Naji ‘handled’ the ball.
Al Duhail created more chances, but nothing too strong that could give them a goal. Paolo Edmilson tried to split open the Qatar SC defence. So did Yousef El Arabi and Almoez Ali. All in vain.
The closest Al Duhail came to scoring in the first half was when Ali Afif sent a first-time volley over the bar off a cross by Edmilson from the right.
A Duhail started the second half by replacing Luis Martin with Under-23 player Hazem Ahmed.
Hazem immediately made his mark by moving forward and that resulted in a collision involving him and Qatar SC goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail.
Murad then came up with a long-ranger that went just wide on the hour mark. However, the right-back was not to be denied as he struck the equaliser for Al Duhail.
Indeed, Murad made amends for the offence he committed that led to Qatar SC’s goal in similar fashion as he sent in a free-kick past the outstretched hands of Al Hail.
Al Duhail intensified their efforts as the game wore on, but could not find the winner.
Source: qsl.qa