Al Sadd lost a great chance to draw closer to current table toppers Lekhwiya when they could only manage a 2-2 draw against Al Sailiya.

Before the match Sadd coach Hussein Amotta had said that his side couldn’t afford any more slip-ups if they were to stand a chance of still winning this season’s title.

The gap to Lekhwiya before this match was four points. But, earlier in the day, the defending champions could only manage a 2-2 draw with Al Wakrah, giving Sadd a great opportunity to reduce the gap.

And knowing the result, they started the match brightly. They were constantly causing problems for Sailiya’s defense. In the 28th minute, they scored through their mercurial winger Hassan al-Haydoos. 

And then in the 40^th minute they scored through Yusuf Ali. The Wolves were looking comfortable but then just five minutes later, with the end of the first half looming, Sailiya reduced the deficit through Issam Jemaa (44).

Al Sadd’s players who were walking tall before that goal went into the break with worried frowns on their face while Sailiya looked the more upbeat.

As expected, it was Sailiya who started the second half with the bit between their teeth. They were eager to take the battle to the Sadd camp. Amotta’s players seemed to be affected by the fatigue of having played quite a few matches in a short period of time.

The persistence from Sailiya paid off when they scored the equalizer through Abdulrahman al-Harazi in the 64th minute.

After that Sadd tried to fight back and look for the winner but they just couldn’t break the stubborn Sailiya defense. Sami Trabelsi’s boys too tried to attack on the counter but could find that elusive third goal.

The match was a huge chance for Sadd to reduce the deficit on the league leaders to just two points. But they failed to take advantage of this opportunity and they only have themselves to blame.