Al Sadd lost 1-2 to Umm Salal to leave their championship hopes in tatters having lost from a winning position in Week 20 of the QNB Stars League at the Al Gharafa Stadium on Friday.

Al Sadd took the lead through Hassan Ahmed in the 12th minute before Umm Salal replied in the 47th and 66th minutes via a Boualem Khoukhi own goal and Mahmoud Mawas.

The match had started in energetic style as a nervous Al Sadd nearly conceded from the off. A quick free-kick on the right caught them off guard and the ball was laid off to Al Inabi whose shot struck the outside of the post.

Ten minutes later, Manuel Ferreira’s men were celebrating thanks to some superb innovation from Hassan Ahmed as he leapt to head home from a Hassan Al Haydous free-kick with his back to goal.

The Wolves were very much the dominant side in the first half. However, they were undone straight after the restart to leave themselves clinging on to their title dreams.

Yannick Sagbo used his strength before laying off to Mohamed El Sayed and his tame shot took a wicked deflection off Khoukhi to equal the scores.

Umm Salal grew further in confidence at this point and were rewarded again, having won a corner on the right. Mawas sent in an out-swinging cross and Oussama Darragi rose highest to firmly plant the ball into the back of the net.

As the clock ticked down, Al Sadd were thrown a lifeline when Ismail Dahqani was sent off for the home side. While they put their opponents under plenty of pressure, it was ultimately not enough.