Al Wasl Football Club and Al Sadd of Qatar played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League at Zabeel Stadium, Dubai, on March 3, 2025. Ali Saleh opened the scoring for Al Wasl with remarkable individual skill just two minutes after kick-off. His early goal gave the home side momentum, yet they failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities to extend their lead.
Throughout the first half, Al Wasl exhibited dominance, controlling the game and creating several scoring chances. Notably, João Pedro came close to adding to their tally but failed to convert two significant opportunities. One of the most glaring misses occurred when Saleh, finding himself virtually unopposed near goal, inexplicably shot over the bar. The Al Wasl attacking unit, featuring Saleh and Pedro, demonstrated frequent pressure against Al Sadd's defense but struggled with precision.
Al Sadd, on the other hand, opted for a more defensive strategy, relying on counter-attacks to threaten the Al Wasl goal. Although they were under pressure for much of the first half, the visitors managed to escape conceding more goals thanks to some key defensive interventions, which included Rafael Muqui's fierce shot being saved just before the halftime whistle.
After the break, Al Sadd regrouped and began to find their rhythm. It wasn’t until the 68th minute when Al Sadd’s Abdullah Al Yazeedi leveled the match with a precise header on a well-placed cross, silencing the home crowd momentarily. This goal revitalized Al Sadd, who stepped up their attacking efforts for the remainder of the match, attempting to snatch victory.
The last quarter of the match was fraught with chances for both teams. Al Wasl’s Fabio Lima nearly restored their lead with another header, which ricocheted off the crossbar, showcasing the narrow margin by which the match could have swung. Meanwhile, Al Sadd looked to exploit any defensive lapses from Al Wasl, generating several dangerous opportunities but faced steadfast resistance from goalkeeper Khaled Al Sanani.
Despite their efforts to clinch the winning goal, the match concluded with both teams earning one point each—a result neither side would deem satisfactory, particularly Al Wasl, who had the home-field advantage. With this result, Al Wasl extends their series without a win at home during the current season of the AFC Champions League to five matches, raising concerns for their return leg set for March 10, 2025, at Al Sadd's home ground.
Strategic Implications
This draw adds pressure on Al Wasl as they prepare for the return leg against Al Sadd. The match highlighted Al Wasl’s attacking strength but also their inability to convert chances fully. Conversely, Al Sadd would take confidence from their response to being behind and will aim to build on their momentum going forward. With their head-to-head records showing two losses and two draws against Al Sadd prior to this encounter, Al Wasl must refocus to advance to the quarterfinals.
Both managers will have plenty to dissect as they evaluate how their teams failed to secure victory. Fans can anticipate adjustments from both sides as the competition heats up. The upcoming encounter remains pivotal, as it will determine who progresses to the next stage of football's prestigious Asian tournament.