AFC Cup QF (1st leg): Al Qadsia 0-0 Al Shorta

Kuwait City: Bader Al Mutwa missed an early penalty as Kuwaiti champions Al Qadsia failed to turn their dominance into goals in a frustrating goalless draw with Syrian champions Al Shorta in the first leg of their AFC Cup quarter-final clash on Tuesday.

The hosts dominated proceedings at the Peace & Friendship Stadium but fired blanks throughout the evening as Al Shorta earned an invaluable draw which leaves both sides with everything still to play for in next week’s return game in Beirut.

It could have been very different though if Al Mutwa had not squandered the opportunity that arrived his way just seven minutes into the game.

The hosts earned a penalty for a foul on Mesaed Nada inside the area and Al Mutwa stepped up, looking to increase his tally in the competition to 10 goals. He fired his shot to the right but Al Shorta goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma made a good stop to deny him.

There was further woe for Al Mutwa in the 37th minute when he broke clear of the Al Shorta defence with only the goalkeeper to beat but put his shot agonisingly wide.

 Al Qadsia remained the better side after the break but their poor finishing meant that there was no change to the scoreline.

On 50 minutes, a cross from the left by Saleh Al Sheikh was met with a powerful header by Khaled Al Qahtani that shaved the left upright.

 Midfielder Saleh Al Sheikh then made a good run into the Al Shorta box in the 72nd minute but his finishing failed to match the build-up as his close-range attempt went wide.

The final chance fell the way of substitute Mohammad Al Fahad seven minutes from time but his powerful shot was well blocked by Alma.

Source:AFC

M.D