TNN/AFC
Doha
Al Sadd were held to a fighting 1-1 draw by Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 opening match at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday.
While Akram Afif had fired Al Sadd into the lead in 45+1minute, the hosts found the equalizer late in the 80th minute through Matias Palacios.
It was determined and exciting display by The Wolves against formidable rivals on their home turf.
Al Sadd showed intent early and had a chance in the very 3rd minute when captain Afif moved in from the left by Rafa Mujica out front lost hold on the cross.
In the 10th minute, Al Ain’s Moroccan forward Soufiane Rahimi hit the left post.
Al Sadd first came close to breaking the deadlock in the 20th minute with Afif timing his dummy run before setting up Mohamed Camara for a powerful strike that forced a save from rival keeper Khalid Eisa.
The UAE side retaliated a minute later with a Rahimi strike through the legs of a defender but was saved by a diving Meshaal Barsham with his left hand.
Barsham again kept a Kaku Romero push at bay in the 28th minute.
Al Sadd drew first blood in added time of the opening half as Afif made the most of a defence lapse on a long ball to first head the ball into the danger area and then scoring on a ricochet after his first kick was blocked by Al Ain’s Fabio Cardoso.
Post break, Al Ain kept trying hard for the equalizer but couldn’t succeed for long. Midway through the session, two attempts were cut off by the Al Sadd goalkeeper Barsham.
The Qatar Stars League champions came close to doubling their advantage in the 64th minute after Otavio opened up play on the left before teeing up Mujica, whose effort bounced off the bar.
Palacios then set the stadium alight for the home fans with a telling strike.
With an attack shaping up superbly, Palacios made space for himself to unleash a cracker from let top of the box with the ball beating Barham to his left. The Argentine midfielder’s long range shot took a deflection before settling into the back of the net.
In the end, it was a fair result for two top sides of the continent sharing points in a blazing opener watched by a packed house.
Al Sadd will next play Iran’s Esteghlal at home on Sept 30th.
Al Nassr hold Al Shorta
to 1-1 draw in Baghdad
Meanhile, Iraq’s Al Shorta held Al Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia to a 1-1 draw in their opening AFC Champions League Elite League Stage match in Baghdad on Monday.
Missing Cristiano Ronaldo and Aymeric Laporte, Al Nassr found the going tough at Al Madina International Stadium and in the end, had to settle for a point.
It was a nervy start for the Saudi side with goalkeeper Bento’s misplaced pass going straight to Bassam Shakir but luckily for Al Nassr, Mohamed Simakan managed to block the Al Shorta midfielder’s shot.
Luis Castro’s men recovered to strike the first blow in the 14th minute after Sultan Al Ghannam latched onto Otavio’s delightful pass, with the Al Nassr captain calmly picking his spot in the bottom corner.
The home side found their way back into the game in the 24th minute when Mohammed Dawood benefited from a mix-up between Simakan and Salem Al Nadji to plant a precise shot into the top corner.
Al Shorta were then awarded a penalty in the 40th minute after Simakan blocked Dawood’s run, however, it was changed to a free-kick after a VAR check deemed the infringement occurred outside the box.
Al Nassr started the better of the two sides in the second half, a first-time pass from Sadio Mane in the 50th minute found Anderson Taslica in space and the Brazilian’s shot required a fingertip save from Ahmed Basil.