AFC Champions League Elite
Former champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia had Georginio Wijnaldum's late, late goal to thank for the point after Qatar's Al Shamal had taken the lead through Baghdad Bounedjah’s 63rd minute strike at the Al Bayt Stadium.
#ACLElite | Al Shamal SC (QAT) 1-1 Al Ittihad Club (KSA)
"We delivered an excellent and magnificent performance throughout the match, with the exception of the final minutes when we conceded the equaliser," said Prats.
"I am proud of the performance, spirit, and level shown by the players — both the starters and the substitutes. They all demonstrated Al Shamal's ability to represent Qatari football with honour at the highest level."
Prats, however, admitted he felt regret that victory was snatched away in the dying seconds of the tie.
"Naturally, I regret dropping two points in the dying moments due to a lack of experience in handling such a major competition, but this is part of the team's learning and development process.
"Conceding in the final minutes was not due to fatigue or physical issues; everyone fought hard and gave their all throughout the match," said Prats, whose side next face Islamic Republic of Iran's Tractor FC on October 12.
Al Ittihad head coach Jens Wissing was relieved with the points, with Wijnaldum scoring with literally the last kick of the game.
"It was a tough encounter against a difficult opponent. We have been through some challenging weeks, and the match saw fluctuations, with chances falling to both sides.
"We lacked sharpness and the right decision making in the attacking third. I am pleased that we didn't lose hope; the draw is a fair result for both teams, given that it wasn't an open game," said Wissing.
The tactician said he will use the upcoming international break to work on improvements.
"We will utilise the break period to rest before returning to work; there are many aspects we want to improve."
Al Ittihad will meet UAE's Shabab Al Ahli next on October 13.
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