QNB Stars League champions Al Sadd held Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf to a 1-1 draw in their opening match in Group E of the 2022 AFC Champions League at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam on Friday.

It was a brilliant fightback by Al Sadd as they finished the match with nine men after defenders Abdelkarim Hassan and Pedro Miguel both received marching orders.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly and Jordan’s Al Wehdat are the other teams in Group E.

Al Sadd are next up against Al Faisaly and Nasaf take on Al Wehdat on Monday.

Semir Smajlagic’s tame shot after a quick break six minutes into the game and Akram Afif’s miscued attempt from inside the box six minutes later were the closest either side came to scoring in the early proceedings.

Al Sadd suffered a major setback midway through the first half as Abdelkarim Hassan was shown a straight red card in the 27th minute for bringing down Shahzod Akramov just outside the box.

Marko Stanojevic sent a powerful low drive from the resulting free-kick, but goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham produced a diving save to keep the score level.

There was nothing Barsham could do a few minutes later when his team-mate Pedro attempted to head away Sharof Mukhitdinov’s in-swinging corner kick, instead sending it into the back of his own net to further compound Al Sadd’s woes a minute after the half-hour mark.

After Santi Cazorla came closest for Al Sadd just before the half-time whistle, The Wolves got what they were looking for 10 minutes after the restart when Boualem Khoukhi rose highest to head home Cazorla’s corner at the far post, bringing the scores level.

Al Sadd had their work cut out for them as Pedro received his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 63rd minute.

To cover up the two-man disadvantage, Al Sadd replaced Hassan Al Haydous and Ali Asad for defenders Mohammed Waad and Tarek Salman and somehow weathered the Uzbek side’s attacks.

In fact, Al Sadd could have snatched full points had Baghdad Bounedjah not struck the post with a half-volley from a tight angle.