There was a flurry of opportunities for Al Taawoun early on with Sultan Mandash’s cross in the seventh minute from the right cleared just in the nick of time by Almahdi Ali before the ball reached Musa Barrow at the far post. 

The home side had a better chance four minutes later when Waleed Al Ahmad’s header found Roger Martinez but the forward couldn’t make the right connection, allowing Saoud Al Khater to claim the ball.

Al Ahmad, however, only lasted 26 minutes on the pitch after the defender was shown the red card by referee Yusuke Araki following a VAR review for violent conduct.

Al Wakrah tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority, with long range efforts from Gelson Dala and Hamdy Fathy forcing saves out of Mailson in Al Taawoun’s goal but it remained goalless at half-time.

Despite being a man down, Al Taawoun could have taken the lead two minutes into the restart when Al Khater flapped at Mandash’s cross. Martinez pounced on the rebound only to see his shot hit the post.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 53rd minute as Al Wakrah seized control of the tie with a firm header from Dala after the Angolan forward rose highest to connect with Ayoub Assal’s cross.

Al Taawoun did not give up the fight and forced their way back into the game in the 77th minute with Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi latching onto a rebound in the box to equalise.

Further chances to win the game in normal time saw Al Wakrah hit the post through Musab Battat before Al Kuwaykibi missed a sitter in stoppage time as the match went into an additional 30 minutes.

Renne Rivas then put Al Taawoun ahead with a header in the 112th minute but Dala forced the match to penalties when he nodded home the equaliser in added on time.

Mailson emerged the hero for the home side, saving attempts from Alexander Scholz and Dala to send Al Taawoun through.