Al Sadd outlast Al Wahda in penalty kicks to advance in Asian Champions League

Khalfan Ibrahim, the Qatar international and former Asian Player of the Year, fired a hat trick, including an equaliser in injury time to force the game into extra time and then a penalty shootout., reports Amith Passela.

A scuffle broke out in the final minutes of regulation between Al Wahda, in red, and Al Sadd during their match in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday night. Three players were sent off. Christopher Pike / The NatioShow more

Al Wahda 4 Al Sadd 4

After extra time, Al Sadd won 5-4 on penalties

Al Wahda Diaz 8', Omar 72', Al Shehhi 90+2', Matar 108'

Al Sadd Ahmad 55', Ibrahim 66', 90+8', 98'

Red cards Damian Diaz, Adil Hermach (Al Wahda), Mohammed Kasola (Al Sadd)

Man of the match Khalfan Ibrahim (Al Sadd)

ABU DHABI // Al Wahda coach Sami Al Jaber said he would wake on Thursday morning looking ahead for a new day at Al Wahda after his team lost to Al Sadd of Qatar in a dramatic Asian Champions League play-off.

Khalfan Ibrahim, the Qatar international and former Asian Player of the Year, fired a hat trick, including an equaliser in injury time to force the game into extra time and then a penalty shootout.

Wahda had just grabbed a 3-2 lead in the 92nd minute when a scuffle broke out, which resulted in red cards to Damian Diaz and Adil Hermach of the home team and Mohammed Kasola of Sadd from Omani referee Abdullah Al Hilali.

Al Jaber refused to talk about the refereeing decisions but praised his players for the spirit they showed on the pitch.

“I want to forget everything that happened tonight and wake up next morning to begin a new day,” he said.

“My players showed remarkable spirit and they showed their potential. It was very unfortunate that we didn’t end up winning.

“This is a great team with a lot of potential to win trophies.”

Wahda scored early through Dias to lead 1-0 at the break. Yusef Ahmed equalised for the visitors in the 56th minute and Ibrahim scored the first of his three goals 10 minutes later.

Amer Omar leveled the score at 2-2 and Mohammed Al Shehhi regained the lead with only a minute of injury time left to play.

It looked like Wahda had done enough, but the scuffle that then broke out in midfield caused the clock to go past the three minutes of injury time and resulted in Wahda having to play extra minutes with nine men on the pitch to Sadd’s 10.

Sadd besieged the Wahda goal for most of that extra injury time and, after an initial strike from Ibrahim, which he had fired in when the ball fell to him from a defended corner.

It rebounded back to him, he had a second attempt that somehow made its way through the crowded goal area and slammed into the top of the net to force the game into extra time. The diminutive Qatar forward then put his side ahead during extra time before Ismail Matar’s free kick forced the game to a shootout.

The penalties went head-to-head until Hussain Fadhel’s effort was blocked by the Sadd goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.

“It was one of the best games for me and my players should get the credit,” said Hussein Amotta, Sadd’s Moroccan coach.

“We expected this game to be close but not as close it was tonight.

“Unfortunately the referee made some mistakes. We didn’t get a penalty but we can’t be complaining on the mistakes because these are not uncommon in football, particularly like a game tonight.”

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