Al Ahli and Umm Salal were locked in a 1-1 draw in Round 3 (Group B) of the 2020-21 season Ooredoo Cup at the Al Arabi Stadium on Wednesday.

New recruit Abdennour Belhocini scored for Umm Salal in the sixth minute by converting a penalty, awarded when Ibrahim Majed tripped Ismail Mahmoud in the area.

Al Ahli took a share of points through an own goal by Umm Salal’s Saoud Riaz in the 86th minute.  

It was the first point for both Al Ahli and Umm Salal.

Al Ahli had slightly more of the ball and created more chances in the first half, but were unlucky not to have scored a goal.

Ali Qaderi’s corner kick early into the game was just about saved by Umm Salal goalkeeper Baba Malick. The midfielder then had the ignominy of watching his long-range shot come back into play after hitting the right upright.

Ismail Mahmoud had an opportunity to double Umm Salal’s lead, but for his narrow miss in front of the goal.

Without any worthwhile attempt at the goal, neither team could succeed and Umm Salal effected three substitutions in the 77th minute as Saoud Riaz, Mohammed Ramadan and Rami Fayez came off the bench. Ibrahim Elsadig and Adnan Mustafa also took the field before long.

One such replacement proved Umm Salal costly as Saoud Riaz headed a corner kick taken by Ali Qaderi into his own net in bid to avert danger even as Al Ahli defender Shane Lowri was chasing the aerial ball.

Al Ahli had earlier lost to Al Arabi (1-5) and Al Kharaitiyat (0-2), while Umm Salal suffered defeat at the hands of Al Gharafa (0-2) and Al Arabi (0-3).