Umm Salal kept their unbeaten record intact this season after an exciting 2-2 draw with Al Shahania at Qatar Sports Club which saw The Orange Fortress come from behind twice after a promising performance from newly-promoted Al Shahania.
After a scrappy opening 10 minutes, Umm Salal’s imposing number 13, Yannick Sagbo, created the first chance of the game after some fancy footwork on the edge of the 18 yard box drew a clumsy challenge from Al Shahania’s defence, gifting Umm Salal a free kick in a dangerous area. The big Frenchman stepped up to take the free kick himself but didn’t manage to test Al Shahania’s goalkeeper, slamming his low shot straight into the wall of blue.
The visitors then began to press at the other end of the field and claimed a corner on the 16 minute mark after a good spell of possession. The corner was whipped towards the near post where Al Shahania’s captain, ?lvaro Mej?a, met the ball and flicked it into the six yard box where Mohamed Tiaiba, the goal scoring hero in Al Shahania’s only win of the season so far against Muaither, found himself totally unmarked and able to stab it home give the Oryxes a 1-0 lead.
Just before the break Umm Salal had a goal disallowed after the linesman deemed Hilal Mohammad was offside when he started his run towards Al Shahania’s goal. The U23 Qatari midfielder controlled the ball on his chest and then beat two defenders before drilling his shot low into the back of the net for what should have been a good equaliser. While the linesman deemed Hilal to be offside, replays showed that the goal should have stood. The Orange Fortress instead went into half time 1-0 down.
Umm Salal came out after the break at pace and after just two minutes levelled the game when Tha’er Bawab scored a fine goal from the edge of the box after 47 minutes of play, drilling a low shot that left Al Shahania’s goalkeeper helpless.
Umm Salal continued to press for a second goal and after 58 minutes, Bawab capitalised on a defensive error which left Al Shahania’s defense outnumbered. The Jordanian international played a clever through ball to Sagbo who quickly squared it to Ismail Mahmoud. Despite finding himself in acres of space, Mahmoud rushed the shot and sent it sailing way over the crossbar.
Both teams continued to press for a winner and on the 68th minute, Al Shahania’s number 4, Mohamed Bader Sayyer, scored what may be a early contender for goal of the season hitting a sweetly struck volley from 22 yards out that left Umm Salal stopper Baba Malick clutching at straws.
The lead didn’t last long though and just ten minutes later, Umm Salal’s number 17 substitute, Abdulaziz Al-Yahri, stabbed home an easy goal from a yard out after another substitute, Mohammed El Sayed, made a darting run into the 18 yard box and delivered a pin point cross into the box.
Despite a tense final ten minutes which saw both teams have possession and create half-chances the final whistle was blown and both teams took away a hard fought point.