Doha: Al Arabi were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Khor in Week 4 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.
Abdalaziz Al Hasia came off the bench to restore parity for Al Khor in 90+4 minute after Ahmed Alaaeldin had put Al Arabi ahead in the 32nd minute.
With the result, both teams are now on three points, having recorded no wins so far in the new season.
The Dream Team’s Rodri Sanchez had a good opportunity of putting his side ahead in the second minute of play after finding himself with only Al Khor’s goalkeeper Ahmed Basher Ali to beat, but the Spaniard shot high and wide.
Al Arabi kept piling the pressure on Al Khor and Jassem Abdulsalam nearly opened scoring in the eighth minute after being set up by Sanchez, only to have his thunderbolt of a shot parried by goalkeeper Ali.
Al Khor had a very good chance of their own four minutes later, only for Yohan Boli to miscue his shot from a very advantageous position.
Al Arabi, who had been the more attack-minded of the two teams, continued to pile pressure on their opponents with relentless efforts and they were rewarded for their endeavours in the 32nd minute when Ahmed Alaaeldin latched on to the ball after poor handling by goalkeeper Ali, following a Marco Verratti 25-yard low-driven shot, to give his side the lead.
In a moment of twist, Al Khor were reduced to 10 men in the 42nd minute after Khaled Radwan was given the marching orders for a foul on Sanchez inside the 18-yard box. The decision, which was initially contested, however, stood after a VAR check. The subsequent penalty kick was brilliantly saved by Ali, ensuring that the lone goal was the difference between the two sides going into the half-time break.
Al Arabi continued from where they stopped in the second half, with Al Khor confined to playing defensive for most of the concluding part of match.
Al Khor had occasional flashes of brilliance upfront, but poor finishing, especially from captain Sofiane Hanni, was their bane, as the defensive network of Al Arabi was strong enough to stave off any challenges from The Knights.
Al Khor appeared to be waxing stronger, with the match getting to the closing stage and they eventually got their desire in four minutes of added time as substitute Al Hasia found the back of the net following a foxy set piece set in motion by Hanni to break the hearts of Al Arabi and ensure the wait for the first win of the season continues for both sides.
