Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Al Ahli 3rd with 42 points, Al Ittihad 16th with 10, 32 apart. The last five rounds placed Al Ittihad 12th in the league for form — higher than their 16th in the standings. In league terms the two rates read 1.94/0.56 for Al Ahli and 0.89/2.28 for Al Ittihad (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.56.
Defeat had not touched Al Ahli in 8 games. Al Ittihad had lost four in a row. The five-game form split read 13/15 points for Al Ahli against 3/15 for Al Ittihad.
Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha staged the fixture, a ground that holds 27,000. On the scoreboard, Al Ahli led 2-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 2-1.