Kalba denied Al Wahda the joy of what was about to be a victory, as the hosts went up by two goals before 'The Tigers' completely turned the situation around in two minutes, tying the score 2-2 at Al Nahyan Stadium. Both Al Wahda and Kalba failed to taste victory for the fifth consecutive match. The draw was a tough blow for Al Wahda, who lost two crucial points in the race for third place with Al Jazira, and the gap could widen if Al Jazira wins. Moreover, this draw was disappointing before the match against Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Elite. 'The Yellow-Blues' failed to maintain their lead, finishing the first half with a two-goal clean sheet, but then conceded two consecutive goals in the 69th and 71st minutes, ending the match 2-2. The draw sparked a wave of criticism towards head coach Darko Milanič, who has achieved only one win since taking charge, with 4 defeats and 5 draws. In contrast, Kalba secured a point, their third in a row, raising their total to 22 points and temporarily placing them ninth in their quest to move away from the relegation zone. For Kalba, the draw was a significant moral victory, as the team showed strong character by coming back from a two-goal deficit against an opponent playing at home. Kalba owes this point to Venezuelan defender Renny Rivas, who scored both equalizing goals, bringing his tally to 5, as well as the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Sultan Al Mundhiri, who saved several dangerous chances. Kalba's head coach Ghazi Al Shammri described the draw as positive given the match's circumstances, while Al Wahda's head coach Milanič stated that his team lacked luck after taking the lead, emphasizing the need to improve performance, especially against teams that rely on a deep defensive block.
