Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kuwait City: The AFC Cup quarter-final between Qadsia SC of Kuwait and Al Hidd of Bahrain remains finely poised after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Peace & Friendship Stadium on Tuesday.
The home side enjoyed an excellent start as Bader Al Mutwa headed them into the lead after only four minutes.
But last year's runners-up were unable to build on to their advantage and they were pegged back early in the second half when Nawaf Al Khaldi fired home the equaliser.
It was a crucial strike for the visitors who now have a precious away goal to take into the return match in Manama next Tuesday.
Qadsia had beaten Al Hidd 2-0 when the sides first met at the Peace & Friendship Stadium during the group stage and the Kuwaiti league champions looked set to emulate that win when they made a bright start to the game and took an early lead.
Fahed Al Ebrahim took the ball on the left flank and he sent over a cross for Al Mutwa who directed his header past Al Hidd goalkeeper Abbas Ahmed.
The home side continued to dominate the play in the first half but Ahmed kept them at bay and helped his team to gradually get a foothold in the match.
That would pay off just three minutes into the second half when they equalised on a quick counterattack. Abdulwahab Al Malood made a good run in the Qadsia half before passing the ball to substitute Al Khaldi who advanced into the area before slipping a low shot between the legs of his namesake, Kuwait international goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi.
Qadsia pressed for a winner in the remaining minutes of the game but they could find no way past the Al Hidd defence as the Bahraini side held on for the 1-1 draw.
Coaches' reactions: Puche points to poor finishing as Qadsia held at home
Photo: WSG