Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd held Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia to a thrilling 1-1 draw in the fifth round (West Group) of the AFC Champions League Elite at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
Paulo Otavio got the equalizer for the hosts in the 71st minute after Ali Al Bulahyi had provided Al Hilal the lead in the 10th minute. The closely fought game could have gone either way with the final 20 minutes providing for edge of the seat excitement to a packed stadium.
Al Sadd relentlessly attacked towards the end in search of a winner but it remained elusive although the final frantic moments also saw Al Hilal come close with the ball hitting the left post in dying moments.
The result ended Al Hilal SFC’s perfect start to the tournament but a point was enough to ensure the former champions (with 13 points) advanced to the next round alongside fellow Saudi side Al Nassr Club, with Al Ahli Saudi FC having confirmed their ticket on Monday.
The one point gained for Al Sadd saw them move to 9 points in fifth behind the Saudi trio and Al Wasl, who have climbed up to fourth with three games remaining.
Al Hilal scored off a corner kick which was headed by Mohammed Kanno but the ball reached Bulahyi, stationed near the right post, to just about manage to move it in.
Al Sadd immediately began offensive to hit back but were met with a resistance with many of their attempts getting cut off. In the 36th minute, a Youcef Atal left-footed strike was saved by Al Hilal keeper in the bottom right corner.
Just before half time, Al Hilal’s Marcos Leanardo made a threatening strike but it was well saved by goalkeeper Meshal Barsham who dived to his right.
Soon on resumption an Akram Afif kick curled a bit too much to swerve past the left post.
Akram Afif then forced a fine save out of Yasssine Bounou nine minutes after the restart, the Moroccan throwing himself at full stretch to tip a long-range effort from the AFC Player of the Year around the post.
Mitrovic then hit the crossbar when he met Nasser Al Dawsari’s first-time ball into the penalty area with a full-blooded strike that left Barsham beaten while Bounou was on hand to keep out Adam Ounas’ header with 20 minutes remaining.
Al Sadd eventually scored with a superb offensive from the right before the ball crossed over to the left for Afif to provide a beautiful sweeping pass for Otavio to score.
Al Sadd’s lack of luck was highlighted when in the 78th minute, Tarek Salman hit the woodwork with a header as Al Sadd pushed for the winner.
Al Hilal also saw a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic attempt get deflected wide moments later as the action swung from one end to the other with neither side able to claim a winner.
Al Sadd next take on Al Nassr in Riyadh on December 2 while Al Hilal SFC will meet Al Gharafa, also in Riyadh, on December 3.
The best eight clubs from each group (of 12 teams) will qualify for the Round of 16.