Al Sadd secured a last-gasp draw with Al Gharafa, but dropped points for the first time in this season’s QNB Stars League on Sunday.

Vladimir Weiss scored for Al Gharafa in the 50th minute, while Hassan Al Haydous helped Al Sadd draw parity by scoring from the penalty spot in almost the last second of five-minute stoppage time.  

Al Sadd were more on the offensive right throughout the opening half of their Week 3 match at the Al Sadd Stadium. Tournament top scorer and spearhead Baghdad Bounedjah got a few chances, but failed to convert them, including a penalty in the 29th minute.

The penalty was awarded when defender Pedro was fouled while chasing the ball that was a rebound off Al Gharafa goalkeeper Yusuf Hassan who blocked Bounedjah’s volley.

Boualem Khoukhi had a header blocked by Yusuf off a Xavi Hernandez corner, while Akram Afif was also off-target.

Al Gharafa mostly resorted to counter-attacks, with Wesley Sneijder, Weiss and Mehdi Taremi on the move.

The Cheetahs’ best chance came towards the end of the session even though Amado’s scorching shot went wide by inches.

Even as Al Sadd continued to launch offensives, it was Al Gharafa who surged ahead against the run of play, with Weiss on target five minutes after restart. The Slovakian midfielder seems to be making up for his long injury layoff last season.

Soon, Abdelkarim Hassan skied the ball and Bounedjah was again off target. The Algerian striker came close to scoring at least half-a-dozen times. When it was not the Al Gharafa goalkeeper, bad luck stood in his way.

Amid Al Sadd’s intense raids came another chance for Al Gharafa to score, but Amro Seraj’s pass was too fast for Taremi to connect in front of an open goal.

Al Sadd finally got lucky at the stroke of final whistle as Al Haydous converted from the spot after a penalty was awarded for a foul on Akram by Al Gharafa’s Othman Al Yahri.

Defender Ibrahim Majed pulled out injured to add to The Wolves’ disappointment.

Al Sadd dominated with 57 per cent possession and forced 11 corner kicks as against Al Gharafa’s two. 

Al Sadd, who had registered big-margin wins in their first two games, took their points to seven and Al Gharafa four.