DOHA : Al Duhail SC and Al Arabi SC played out a 1-1 draw in the 16th round of the Doha Bank Stars League at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
Cameroonian striker Karl Toko Ekambi gave Al Arabi the lead in the 24th minute, while Edmilson Junior equalised for Al Duhail in the 65th.
The result leaves Al Duhail eighth in the standings on 21 points, while Al Arabi move to 24 points in sixth place.
Al Arabi began on the front foot, pressing high and creating several early chances. The breakthrough came when Spaniard Rodrigo Sanchez delivered a cross that reached Ekambi, who converted at the second attempt despite an initial save from goalkeeper Salah Zakaria.
Al Duhail pushed for a response before the break, with Sultan Al-Buraik’s cross in the 36th minute comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Jassim Al-Hail.
The momentum shifted after halftime as Al Duhail increased the pressure and found the equaliser through Edmilson Junior, whose free kick deceived Al-Hail and went into the net.
Edmilson nearly added a second in the 71st minute after weaving into the area, but his effort was saved. Al Arabi responded two minutes later when Michael Olunga’s shot drifted wide.
In stoppage time, French midfielder Jordan Veretout tested Zakaria with a strike from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper preserved the draw before the referee signalled full time.
