Al-Shamal missed out on a historic victory with its first participation in the elite AFC Champions League for the 2026-2027 edition, after tying with Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia with a goal for each team in the match that brought the two teams together yesterday evening at Al-Bayt World Cup Stadium, after Al-Ittihad returned in the last seconds to equalize in the 4th minute + 90, through Wijnaldum, after Al-Shamal had been ahead with a goal for Baghdad Bounedjah in the 63rd minute, so Al-Shamal achieved its first Asian point.
The match started strong after a shot from Al-Ittihad player Dion Loubi in the ninth minute, but it was blocked by Al-Shamal goalkeeper Babacar Seck. Al-Shamal, in turn, was on time and shined a lot, wasting many chances in front of the goal, and luck stopped against them on two occasions, as the 16th minute saw a chance from Mohamed Ali bin Ramadan hit the crossbar, and the same thing happened again in the 33rd minute from player Wesley Saeed. Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia almost scored a goal before the first half in the 43rd minute with a shot from Stephen, but it was also blocked brilliantly by Babacar Seck, so the first half ended in a goalless draw.
Al-Shamal entered strongly in the second half, and wasted an opportunity from a strong shot by player Claudio in the 53rd minute, but it was blocked by Saudi Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Rajkovic. The 63rd minute witnessed a historic goal for Al-Shamal and Baghdad Bounedjah, considering it to be the team’s first goal historically in the Asian participation after a wonderful team game, between Mohamed Ali bin Ramadan, who passed it to Bounedjah, who successfully scored it against Al-Ittihad, igniting a confrontation between the two teams, Al-Shamal seeking to strengthen, and Al-Ittihad to return and score a draw. In the 74th minute, Al-Shamal scored a goal, but it was canceled due to player Mohamed Ali bin Ramadan being offside. The remaining minutes of the match witnessed an attack between the two sides, and Al-Ittihad wasted several chances. With everyone preparing to blow the whistle for the match and announcing Al-Shamal’s victory, the Dutchman Wijnaldum scored the equalizer for Al-Ittihad in the 4+90 minute, so that the match ended with a goal for each team.
Ibrahim Al-Sada: We deserved to win
Ibrahim Al-Sada, President of Al-Shamal Club, confirmed that the draw against Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia with a goal for the same in the AFC Champions League for the Elite does not at all diminish the value of the great performance presented by the team, praising the strong personality that the players showed throughout the match. Al-Sada said: “Congratulations to Al-Shamal for this performance and character. Our team was the best throughout the two halves of the match, and presented a level befitting the name of the club and Qatari football. The players were up to the responsibility, and showed a fighting spirit and high concentration in front of a large team that included elite players.”
He added: “We deserved to win given what we presented and the opportunities we were given, but football does not always recognize what it deserves, and the goal that Al-Ittihad scored in the last seconds of stoppage time was certainly painful, especially since we were very close to scoring three well-deserved points.”
He continued: “Nonetheless, I am proud of what the team presented, and this draw should be an incentive for us to continue the journey with confidence.” Al-Shamal has proven that it is capable of fighting the big boys, and I hope that we will continue with this spirit and determination in the upcoming matches.”
David Prats: Proud of the team
Spanish coach David Prats, Al-Shamal coach, expressed his satisfaction with what Al-Shamal presented against Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia.
He said, “Al-Shamal performed excellently and wonderfully throughout the match, with the exception of the last minutes in which the team conceded the opponent’s equalizer.”
He added, “I am proud of the performance, spirit and level of the players, whether the main players or the substitutes who played, and they all demonstrated the ability of Al Shamal Club to represent Qatari football with honor.”
Baghdad Bounedjah: We played a great match
Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah, captain of Al-Shamal Club and the scorer of the team’s goal against Al-Ittihad, confirmed that the players played a great match and deserved to come out with the three points, praising the spirit and character that the team showed.
Bounedjah said: “I feel proud of what we presented against a big team like Al-Ittihad. We were the best for most of the match, and we succeeded in scoring and maintaining our lead until the final seconds, but the goal came at a fatal time and deprived us of victory. I thank my colleagues for the great effort and fighting spirit, and the fans for their support. Scoring a goal makes me happy, but what is most important to me is the team’s interest. A draw is painful in this way, but it gives us more confidence to continue the journey and fight in the upcoming matches.”
Mutual honor between the two clubs
Al-Shamal Club honored the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club, as an embodiment of the spirit of brotherhood, mutual respect and distinguished relations that bring together the two clubs, before the start of the match that brought the two teams together yesterday at Al-Bayt Stadium, within the first round of the AFC Elite Champions League. Meshal Al-Ali, head of the football team at Al-Shamal Club, handed the representative of the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club a shield and a certificate of appreciation presented by Al-Shamal Club, as an expression of welcome to the sister club and in appreciation of the fraternal relations that unite the two parties. On the other hand, the representative of the Saudi Al-Ittihad Club presented the Al-Ittihad Club shield to the Al-Shamal Club, in a gesture that reflects the depth of relations and mutual respect between the two clubs, and emphasizes the values of brotherhood and sportsmanship that characterize such occasions.
Luck is stubborn against Saeed and Ben Ramadan
Luck stopped for the northern duo, Wesley Saeed, and the Tunisian Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan in the match against Al-Ittihad in the first round of the AFC Champions League for the elite 2026-2027, after two chances for the duo hit the crossbar during the events of the first half, as the ball hit the crossbar in the 16th minute from the player Mohamed Ali Ben Ramadan, and also Wesley Saeed in the 33rd minute, and apart from the two chances, the duo gave a very distinguished performance and were among the most prominent stars. North thanks to their high offensive effectiveness.