Riyadh: Qatar held Gulf Cup hosts Saudi Arabia to a 1-1 draw in their opening group game at the King Fahd International Stadium on Thursday.
Ebrahim Majed cancelled out Fahad Al Muwallad’s first-half opener before the hour to disappoint the expectant masses.
Hosts Saudi were supposed to have dominated but, in truth, it was The Maroons who had the best of the chances.
Al Muwallad shinned Nasser Al Shamrani’s cross on 37 minutes to hand Saudi Arabia 1-0 advantage going into the interval.
But up until that point, The Green Falcons had only really enjoyed one opportunity in front of goal, when captain Saeed Khariri’s header was scooped wide by The Maroons’ keeper Qassem Burhan early on.
Qatar, on the other hand, should have felt hard done by.
Adel Elias saw his effort turned wide after chancing his way through defence, and he then struck over from Hassan Al Haydos’ cross, when it had appeared easier to score.
Al Muwallad looked to have doubled Saudi’s lead early in the second half after heading home a cross, but it was ruled out after he was adjudged to have pushed his marker.
That scare gave Qatar second wind, with Abdul Fadallah’s long shot forcing Saudi keeper Walid Ali to tip over, before Ebrahim Majed headed home from a corner for a deserved equaliser on 53 minutes.
Revived by that leveler, Qatar went in search of the lead; Boualem Khoukhi twice worked his way through on goal but struck wide either side of a similar effort from Al Haydos, as Saudi fell under a barrage of corners.
Despite Qatar looking odds on to snatch a winner, Saudi were able to hold on for the point.
Qatar had won their last four matches coming into this encounter, and look strong despite missing key players Khalfan Ebrahim and Sebastian Soria. Under pressure Saudi, meanwhile, had won just two in ten coming into this game and look to have a lot to work on if they are to appease the dreams of their supporters.
