Al Ahli and Al Arabi played out a 1-1 draw in Week 18 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.

Yousef Msakni scored for Al Arabi in the 57th minute before Oumar Sekou got the equaliser for Al Ahli (81st-minute penalty) of the highly-entertaining encounter.

With the result, Al Arabi now have 23 points, while Al Ahli have 20.

Clashes between two of Qatar’s oldest clubs have always been tantalizing and Saturday’s match did not prove otherwise as both teams went for each other’s jugular right from the blast of the opening whistle.

Al Arabi, who were better positioned in the league table compared to their opponents, expectedly had the upper hand in terms of ball possession in the early minutes of the game. But for all their possession, the goals were not forthcoming as anticipated, with the heroics of Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Badreldin between the sticks denying them the opportunity of an early goal.

Al Ahli had a couple of chances of their own, with German international Julian Draxler orchestrating things upfront for The Brigadiers, but poor finishing was their bane. Idrissa Doumbia fluffed an opportunity that could have given them the lead in the 44th minute after blasting wide, with Al Arabi goalkeeper Jassim Al Hail narrowing the opportunity angle.

That was virtually the last most eventful part of the half as the referee signalled for the dugout.

The second half began the same way as the first, with Al Arabi pushing hard upfront, while Al Ahli were on the defensive.

After a series of hits-and-misses, the deadlock was eventually broken in the 57th minute, with Msakni powering home a glancing header off a corner kick by Rafinha Alcantara to give The Dream Team the lead.

Jassem Al Sharshani almost got the equaliser three minutes later, but his 25-yard shot, off a rebound, went just inches off the target.

Chasing an equaliser, Al Ahli made a double substitution in the 66th minute, with Islam Yaseen replacing Yasen Abdallah Lafrid and Ramon Arias coming in for Jassem Al Sharshani. The fresh legs seemed to bring out a more purposeful play from coach Pedro Miguel’s team and it was therefore not surprising that they won a penalty for a dangerous tackle on goal-bound Sekou by Al Arabi captain Abdulla Al Marafi.

The penalty call was a subject of protest from Al Arabi, but after a very lengthy VAR review, it was made to stand, and Sekou, who got the spot kick initially saved, was on hand to slot in the rebound to restore parity in the 81st minute.

The goal brought more life into the game as each team went for broke in an attempt to get the maximum points, but none of them could prevail over the other as the match was eventually brought to an end with the points shared.