
Doha: Qatar’s two representatives in the 2015 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 2 had mixed fortunes ahead of Tuesday’s continental club qualifiers with Al Sadd twice surrendering the lead to draw 2-2 with Al Wakrah and El Jaish leaving it late to defeat Al Arabi 2-0.
Al Sadd took a the lead 16 minutes into their QSL Round 16 clash with Wakrah through 2006 AFC Player of the Year Khalfan Ibrahim only for former Al Sadd defender Hamood Al Yazidi, who appeared in the 2006, 2007 and 2010 AFC Champions League campaigns for Al Sadd, to draw Al Wakrah level on the half-hour mark.
Ali Assadalla struck 20 minutes after the interval to restore the 2011 AFC Champions League winners’ lead only for Al Wakrah to hit back for a second time and earn a share of the spoils through Moroccan midfielder Mouhcine Moutouali’s 76th minute equaliser.
Meanwhile, El Jaish scored twice in the last ten minutes of their Qatar Stars League clash with Al Arabi, who had to play with ten men after the 66th minute sending off of Ahmed Fathi for a second bookable offence.
The home side had given a good account of themselves until going a man down allowed El Jaish to dominate the contest, making their numerical advantage count in the 81st minute through Brazilian playmaker Romarinho’s ninth goal since joining the club from Corinthians in September.
Ghana-born Qatar international Mohammed Muntari (pictured) made it 2-0 in stoppage-time to seal the win that took El Jaish up to third in the QSL standings with 28 points, nine fewer than second-place Al Sadd.
El Jaish host Oman’s Al Nahda while Al Sadd take the first step on the road to a potential tenth appearance in Asia’s premier club competition when they entertain Riffa of Bahrain.
Photo: WSG
Source : Asian Football Confederation Website