DOHA (Qatar): Qatar SC and Umm Salal played out a 1-1 draw in the Qatar Stars League at the Al Sadd Stadium on Monday.
Kayke Rodrigues put Qatar SC ahead in the 52nd minute while substitute Fahad Khalfan scored for Umm Salal in the 72nd minute through a penalty.
Qatar SC and Umm Salal now have 18 and 16 points respectively.
Both teams are not completely out of the danger zone, so the point earned will help them in their bid to stay in the First Division.
Umm Salal’s performance has been on the rise ever since Moroccan Aziz Ben Askar, himself their former defender, took charge of the side from Spaniard Raul Caneda this season. The Orange Fortress had lost many points in the first leg, leaving themselves in dire straits.
The latest display by Ben Askar’s wards is also commendable, given that they had lost to Qatar SC by a 0-5 margin in the first leg of 2019-20 QNB Stars League.
Umm Salal had slightly more of the ball in a barren first half, but Qatar SC had a bit more advantage in the second.
In the opening session, Qatar SC’s Abdenasser El Khayati’s attempt at the goal was blocked by goalkeeper Baba Malick, who also parried Sardor Rashidov’s long-range effort.
At the other end, Umm Salal’s Raul Bezerra could not connect the ball ahead of the goalkeeper.
Qatar SC, who have also improved under former Qatar international midfielder Wesam Rizik, went ahead through Kayke, who was assisted by Rashidov in scoring.
The equaliser came when Qatar SC’s Abdulaziz Adel brought down Ayyoub Azzi and Fahad Khalfan converted the resultant penalty.
Malick thwarted Rashidov on yet another occasion, in the last minute of regular time, as the deadlock remained.
