Al Ahli and Al Sadd played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Week 11 opener of 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday.

Julian Draxler scored both goals for Al Ahli (45+4 and 52nd minutes), while Akram Afif recorded both of Al Sadd’s goals (13th and 59th minutes).

With the spoils shared, both teams now have 22 points, but Al Sadd are ahead on better goal difference.

Al Ahli gave an impression of what was to be expected as early as the third minute when Draxler came up with a right-footed stunner from just outside the box that took all the efforts of The Wolves goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham to get saved.

Al Ahli revved up the momentum from thereon with relentless attacks on Al Sadd’s defence but for all their efforts, however, the luck of the draw fell to Al Sadd, who opened the scoring through Afif in the 13th minute with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner, following a sublime assist by Giovani.

Three minutes later, The Brigadiers were handed the opportunity to level the scores after being awarded a penalty for a foul on Erik Exposito. The decision, which was hotly contested, was, however, settled after a VAR approval, which Al Ahli, however, did not convert with Oumar Sekou hitting the left post with a right-footed shot to the disappointment of fans and bench, who were out in their numbers for the highly-anticipated encounter.

The scoreline remained unchanged going into the second half.

A rejuvenated Al Ahli came out of the dugout and their efforts were rewarded within four minutes of the restart, with Draxler scoring the first of his brace with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

By the 52nd minute, Al Ahli had turned the game on its head as they went from a goal down to a goal up again through Draxler, who hit the bull’s eye with another left-footed shot from the left side of the box to the centre of the goal from a great assist by Sekou.

The goal seemed to have brought back the strength in Al Sadd as they went on a rampage in search of an equaliser which they eventually got seven minutes later through Afif, who, in a sheer moment of magic, waltzed his way past a horde of Al Ahli defenders before unleashing a right-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.

With both teams levelled, the bite seemed to have been taken off the game as their attacking adventures were kept in check, with each side more willing to play it safe than go for the outright kill.