Qatar SC and Al Arabi were locked in a 1-1 draw in Round 3 (Group B) of the 2019-20 Ooredoo Cup at the Al Ahli Stadium on Friday.

Kayke Rodriguez scored in the 55th minute as Qatar SC took the lead, which was neutralised by Al Arabi through Abdulla Marafy’s goal in the 83rd minute.

Qatar SC now have seven points and Al Arabi five.

Possession was even in the first half. Al Arabi captain Mohammed Salem Al Hamed came closest to scoring, but his header off a corner went over.

After a goalless first half, Al Arabi almost made a breakthrough seconds after the restart when Hossam Kamal’s cross from the right was cleared to safety by the Qatar SC defence from the goalmouth.

Qatar SC did surge ahead when Kayke, who scored their all three goals against Al Gharafa in the previous round, was on hand to place the ball home after Abdenasser Elkhayati crossed the ball from the left following a brilliant piece of dribbling. He managed to get the ball past goalkeeper Loukay Sherif and defender Marc Martinez and on to Kayke.

Al Arabi soon launched offensives. Hamdi Harbaoui’s long-range rising shot went straight to Qatar SC goalkeeper Mohammed Ghanem in the 58th minute and Marafy’s shot in the 67th minute was blocked by the keeper.

At the other end, Kayke struck a free-kick directly into the hands of Loukay.

Al Arabi were rewarded for their efforts when Marafy fired in a rebound from goalkeeper after substitute Ibrahim Nasser first took the kick, with Birkir Bjarnasson doing the spadework.