Al Ahli held Umm Salal to a 1-1 draw in Round 3 (Group A) of the 2023-2024 season Ooredoo Cup at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium of Al Wakrah club on Sunday.

While Oussama Tannane scored for Umm Salal in the 13th minute, Danilo Arboleda fetched the equalizer for Al Ahli in the 29th minute.

The result saw The Orange Fortress stay atop the group with seven points in their kitty, while Al Ahli are third with four points ahead of Qatar SC, who also have the same number of points.

Al Arabi are second in the table with seven points, behind on goal difference to Umm Salal.

Al Wakrah (three points) and Muaither (no point) are the other teams in Group A.

Umm Salal made an early breakthrough, with their Moroccan winger Tannane producing a spectacular goal with a dead-ball kick. Tannane shot from 10 yards outside just left of the box and the ball rocketed before taking a bounce which beat a diving Al Ahli goalkeeper Marwan Sherif near bottom left of the goal post.

The Brigadiers hit back soon through their tall Colombian defender Arboleda, who made a fine header rising high after Ali Qaderi sent in a fine cross from the right.

The deadlock, however, remained resolute till the end in a battle of equals despite both sides battling hard to get the winning strike.

In the second session (55th minute), Al Ahli’s Oumar Sekou had a good chance in front of the goal, but his attempt was stopped by Umm Salal goalkeeper Samy Beldi, who did a lot of good work under the bar.

The Brigadiers raided the rival den on more occasions and, in the 85th minute, a shot from Idrissa Doumbia was again cut off by the goalkeeper. He was fed with a good cross by substitute Yassin Ali.

Umm Salal too seemed to be making a repeat of their earlier free-kick goal but, this time, the ball curled out past the bottom of the left goal post.