Leaders Al Duhail were held to a goalless draw by a challenging Al Rayyan in Week 13 of the 2024-2025 season Ooredoo Stars League at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan club on Thursday.

The Red Knights could not force the issue despite Al Rayyan being reduced to 10 men after Abdulaziz Hatem was sent off after he landed his boot on the thigh of Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga in the 55th minute of the match.

For their part, The Lions despite being a man down, held on the rivals’ charge to force a stalemate in an exciting match.

The result saw the teams get a point each and Al Duhail stayed at the helm in the rankings with 29 points to their credit, while Al Rayyan are in fifth place with 17 points.

The match began with exciting moments in the very sixth minute of play as Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria made back-to-back stunning saves. First, Al Rayyan’s Murad Naji fired in a solid left-footer from outside the box and Zakaria flung to his right to push the ball away, but there was another Al Rayyan player who seized the chance to rush in and fire again, but Zakaria was up again and in position to make a block again.

Al Duhail tried to hit back and in the 15th minute, their Kenyan striker Olunga in a goalmouth action first took the ball on his chest before firing in a volley from top of the box, but the ball skimmed the top of the crossbar to sail over.

Both teams continued to attack, but were met with resistance from the defence lines.

In the second half, Al Rayyan’s Hatem along with Olunga rushed for a high ball, but the former landed his boot on Olunga’s right thigh and the referee flashed the red card.

Al Duhail pressed hard, creating several chances through Luis Alberto, Edmilson Junior and Benjamin Bourigeaud. However, it was Al Rayyan goalkeeper Samy Beldi, who produced a standout performance as the action gathered momentum towards the end.

Samy first made a brilliant save to deny Bassam Al Rawi’s header in the 84th minute before making another crucial save. In the 89th minute, Al Duhail substitute Ibrahima Diallo picked up a good pass from another sub Ismail Mohammed, who moved the ball from inside the box to the top of the ‘D’, but Diallo’s kick was pushed away in the left corner by a diving Beldi.