Qatar's Pedro Miguel (left) and Wydad's Montasser Lahtimi in action.
Qatar’s Al Sadd and Morocco’s Wydad shared points in their opening Group B clash of the King Salman Club Cup 2023 following a gripping goalless encounter at the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium in Abha, yesterday.
Wydad suffered an early blow when they were reduced to 10 men in the 36th minute after midfielder Yahya Jabrane was shown the red card for a strong foul tackle on Al Sadd’s Pedro Miguel. Despite the disadvantage, the Casablanca-based team displayed resilience against the strong Al Sadd side.
Al Sadd’s feared striker Akram Afif started the game on a high pace, repeatedly threatening Wydad’s defence. In the 29th minute, Afif’s well-timed header, assisted by Ali Asad, nearly broke the deadlock, but Wydad’s goalkeeper Youssef El Motie made a crucial save.
“The first half was a balanced contest between the two teams. We created numerous opportunities, but after Wydad’s player was sent off, the second half became more challenging, especially as the Moroccan team closed down spaces and adopted a defensive approach around their goal,” Al Sadd coach Bruno Miguel said after the match. As the second half commenced, Al Sadd continued their offensive onslaught.
Tarek Salman’s excellent pass found Boualem Khoukhi, who unleashed a powerful strike from long range, only to be denied by El Motie’s impressive goalkeeping skills.
As the intensity grew, Wydad’s defense turned aggressive, resorting to strong tackles to halt Al Sadd’s momentum. Tempers flared as the game reached a critical juncture, with both sides determined to secure a victory.
Coach Miguel tried to shake things up by making strategic substitutions, including replacing Baghdad Bounedjah with Ahmad Al Saeed in the 79th minute.
The Qatari side pushed hard till the final whistle, but Wydad’s tenacious defense and vigilant goalkeeper kept the goal at bay.
In the dying minutes of the game, Afif managed to penetrate the rival defense, delivering a precise cross to Uribe, whose header was brilliantly intercepted by an alert Wydad defender.
Despite Al Sadd’s valiant efforts and Afif’s long-range attempt that sailed wide, the match ended in a deadlock. Both teams showcased their football prowess and determination, setting the stage for an exciting tournament ahead.
Miguel highlighted that Al Sadd gained valuable insights from the match and they will work on refining them in the forthcoming matches against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Ahli Tripoli of Libya.
“We delivered a strong performance, and this game is part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming season, for which we are preparing rigorously,” Miguel said.
Iraqi side Al Shorta defeated Club Sfaxien of Tunisia 1-0 in the other game of the opening day.
Al Sadd will meet Al Hilal club in their next Group B fixture on Sunday at the same venue before taking on Ahli Tripoli at the Damac Stadium on August 2.
