Al Shamal twice came from behind to hold Muaither to a 2-2 draw in Week 4 of the 2023-2024 season Expo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Sunday.

Congolese Guy Mbenza (59th minute) and Andri Syahputra (84th minute) were on target for Muaither, while substitute Mohammed Omar (69th minute) and Ricardo Gomes (90+3 minute) got the goals for Al Shamal.

With the latest result, Muaither have four points, having won just one of their four matches while losing two and drawing one.

Al Shamal, on the other hand, are still in search of their first win of the season and are now on three points after drawing three of their matches and losing one.

The two teams were cautious for most of the first half, with both sides trying to size each other out without any serious incursions into the danger areas upfront.

Muaither’s Mbenza got the first real chance of the match in the third minute, but his 35-yard right-footed shot from Denis Alibec’s assist missed to the left.

It was the turn of Al Shamal to have a shot at goal in the 17th minute, but Abdulaziz Al Ansari’s right-footed attempt from outside the box narrowly missed the top right corner.

Jassim Ali Al Hashemi also had his left-footed attempt saved by goalkeeper Ivanildo two minutes into added time in the first half.

After a goalless first half, Guy Mbenza finally broke the deadlock for Muaither just before the hour mark with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner from El Nagi El Sadiq’s cross.

Ten minutes later, it was the turn of Al Shamal to celebrate as Mohammed Omar’s powerful glancing header from the right side of the six-yard box caught Ivanildo napping and the goalkeeper could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed in.

With the match apparently heading for a draw, Syahputra restored Muaither’s lead in the 84th minute with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner from Alibec’s assist.

Mbenza could have extended the lead three minutes later, but his long-range, right-footed shot from a difficult angle got blocked.

Just as Muaither were about to celebrate a second successive win, Gomes struck the dagger in their hearts with his injury-time goal to ensure the spoils were evenly shared between the two sides.