<div><img style="" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.qsl.qa/sites/default/files/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%AF%20%20%D…; alt="Alt" title="" /></div>
<p>Qatar’s Al Sadd were held to a 2-2 draw by Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor who twice came from behind at the Pakhtakor Central Stadium in Tashkent in their 2019 AFC Champions League Group D third-round match on Monday.</p><p>The newly-crowned QNB Stars League champions came into the match having ended a four-match winless run in the competition. Meanwhile, Pakhtakor hoped to stay unbeaten on top of the group with a home win.</p><p>Both sides made their attacking intents clear from the start and Pakhtakor’s Jaloliddin Masharipov tested the goalkeeper from distance just 90 seconds into the match.</p><p>Al Sadd’s first sight of goal came quickly after and it was decisive as Baghdad Bounedjah supplied a low cross for Xavi who curled it from the edge of the box into the top corner to open the scoring for the visitors in the sixth minute.</p><p>Within three minutes, Pakhtakor responded in spectacular fashion as Khojiakbar Alijonov pounced on a poor defensive clearance to unleash a thunderous drive that nestled in the top corner of Meshal Barshim’s goal.</p><p>Goals kept raining and it was again Al Sadd captain Xavi who found the back of the net. The Spanish midfielder curled-in a perfect free-kick from 25 yards that beat goalkeeper Sanjar Kuvvatov to restore Al Sadd’s lead in the 16th minute.</p><p>Pakhtakor were again able to claw back the margin before the half-time break. Masharipov crossed for Dragan Ceran who directed his header to the far post past Barshim to make it 2-2. </p><p>The hosts, propelled by a loud crowd, dominated possession in the second half, while Al Sadd looked to hit on the counter.</p><p>Despite the two teams’ best efforts, there were no goals in the second half and the spoils were shared ahead of the reverse fixture in two weeks’ time in Doha.</p>