Substitute Sami Al Husaini scored two late goals for Bahrain to deny hosts Qatar a winning start at the 2011 Arab Games football competition and force a 2-2 stalemate between the two teams.

Al Rayyan striker Jarallah Al Mari, regaining his form following a leg muscle injury, wasted a glorious chance in the opening exchanges when his attack-mate Mohammed Razak chested the ball to him inside the box but saw Al Mari blazing it over the bar.

However, his next effort was on target, as he beautifully flicked the ball over keeper Sayed Jaafar in the 16^th minute.

On 33 minutes, Mohammed Razak added the second goal for Qatar from a one-on-one situation with the Bahraini keeper after he capitalized on a defensive blunder by skipper Salaman Issa.

However, the visitors drew parity through goals from second-half substitute Sami Al Husaini (67th, 85th).

Bahrain will take on Iraq on Tuesday. Qatar’s next match is also against Iraq on December 16.