Al Ahli and Al Sadd share points after goalkeepers dominate AFC Champions League Elite clash

Al Ahli and Al Sadd played out a goalless draw in the fourth round of the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite on Monday, with both goalkeepers producing several important saves.

Al Ahli controlled long periods of the match but could not turn their superiority into a goal as Al Sadd goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham repeatedly denied the Saudi side. The Qatari club also created opportunities to surprise their opponents, but neither team found a breakthrough.

The result leaves Al Sadd on two points in 15th place, one from bottom. Al Ahli moved to eight points and remain third.

Both sides began cautiously, although Al Sadd threatened first when Roberto Firmino’s effort from outside the area in the eighth minute was blocked by the defence.

Al Ahli suffered an early setback when Valentin Atangana was injured in the 15th minute. He left the field three minutes later, with Ziyad Aljohani coming on in his place.

Akram Afif was booked for Al Sadd in the 23rd minute, before Galeno received the match’s second yellow card three minutes later.

Al Ahli attempted to take control, with Eduard Spertsyan shooting wide from distance in the 27th minute. Al Sadd responded through Claudinho and Giovani, but Edouard Mendy saved the former’s effort in the 30th minute and the latter’s shot went over the crossbar.

Barsham then made a fine save to keep out Roger Ibanez’s header from Spertsyan’s cross in the 39th minute. Two minutes later, the Al Ahli goalkeeper again intervened, turning Galeno’s powerful close-range effort behind for a corner.

Claudinho missed a chance for Al Sadd in added time when his shot from outside the area cleared the crossbar, leaving the teams level at half-time.

Al Ahli resumed with greater attacking intent. Ivan Toney sent an effort narrowly wide after meeting Galeno’s cross in the 46th minute, then came close again four minutes later with another shot.

Mendy responded with saves from Firmino in the 52nd minute and Claudinho in the 64th. Al Sadd replaced Mohammed Camara with Mostafa Mashaal in the 51st minute and Giovani with Hashem Ali in the 69th.

Al Ahli made a further change when Mohammed Suleiman went off injured in the 59th minute, with Rayan Hamed replacing him. Hamed was booked in the 67th minute.

The Saudi side made all three remaining substitutions together in the 81st minute, bringing on Firas Al-Birakan, Ibrahim Diaby and Matheus Goncalves for Ivan Toney, Artem Bondarenko and Trincao.

Mendy saved from Firmino in the 77th minute, while Barsham denied Matheus Goncalves in the 84th and Ibrahim Diaby’s header in the 88th. Roger Ibanez then headed over from another Spertsyan delivery as the match ended with the score unchanged.