Al Ain: Al Sadd were held to a fighting 1-1 draw by Al Ain of the UAE in the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Monday, September 16, 2024.
While Akram Afif had fired Al Sadd into the lead in 45+1 minute, the hosts found the equalizer 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 third minute when captain Afif moved in from the left by Rafa Mujica out front but 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 defensive 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 could not succeed for long. Midway through the session, two attempts were cut off by the Al Sadd goalkeeper before Palacios 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 Barsham to his left.
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 September 30.
