(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Youssef Msakni marked his return to Al Duhail with a stunning goal to cancel out Akram Afif's opener for Al Sadd as the two Qatari sides played out a 1-1 draw at the new Al Janoub Stadium in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League round of 16 yesterday.
However, Afif's ‘away' goal will come in handy for Al Sadd despite the outcome of the match ahead of next week's return leg.
The winners will face either Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia or Al Wahda of the UAE in the quarter-finals.
Skipper Masakni returned to Al Duhail after spending a season with Qatar-owned KAS Eupen on loan.
The Tunisian star was not the only debutant in yesterday's high-octane clash. South Korean Nam Tae-hee who swapped sides, also donned Al Sadd colours first the first time after completing 160 appearances for Al Duhail since 2012 while his coach, Barca legend Xavi Hernandez also made his managerial debut on the night. On the other hand, 19-year-old Iraqi forward Mohanad Ali played his first match wearing the Al Duhail colours.
Al Sadd's forward Akram Afif celebrates after scoring against Al Duhail.
Al Duhail's night started with an early blow as star defender Medhi Benatia hobbled off with an injury 18 minutes into the match. Replacing him was Qatari international Bassam Al Rawi who nearly made an instant impact, but he curled his free-kick just over the crossbar from his first touch of the ball.
Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb waited until the 24th minute to make his first save, when he dived low to catch Mohammad Musa's header from Ali Afif's out-swinging corner-kick.
The stalemate was finally ended at the half-hour mark and it was Al Sadd's Akram Afif who drew first blood. A misplaced Mohammed Muntari pass was collected by Jung Woo-young who caught the Al Duhail defence napping, sending an overhead pass for Afif to cut inside and drill into the back of the net, beating goalkeeper Amine Lecomte at his near post.
A cagey period ensued with little in the way of scoring chances for either team. That is until Al Duhail found an opening just a minute before the end of the first half.
Brazilian winger Edmilson moved into space down the right flank and supplied an outside-of-the-boot cross that was chested down by Muntari for skipper Msakni who fired first-time on the half volley from the edge of the box and into the back of the net to bring the home side level.
Al Sadd's midfielder Jung Woo-young (left) vies for the ball possession with Al Duhail's forward Mohanad Ali.
Al Duhail's Almoez Ali had his first sight of goal five minutes after the restart. Msakni and Edmilson exchanged quick passes on the right wing and the former slipped a through pass for Ali who tried his luck from an angle, but was denied by Al Sheeb.
Al Duhail took control for the remainder of the second half as they looked to secure a win at home. Al Rawi threatened with a header that breezed over the bar and Ali watched as his powerful effort from outside the box was punched away by the goalkeeper.
Even the introduction of Iraqi international Mohanad Ali in the 65th minute for his Al Duhail debut didn't make a difference to the fortunes of Rui Faria's men as they settled for a 1-1 draw ahead of making the short trip north to Al Sadd's Jassim bin Hamad Stadium for the return leg next week.
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