Qatar’s Al Arabi and Al Wakrah crashed out of contention for the AFC Champions League group stage after suffering a narrow losses in the playoff ties on Tuesday.
Arabi went down to AGMK FC of Uzbekistan 0-1 at the Al Thumama Stadium, while the other Uzbek side Navbahor edged Al Wakrah SC 1-0 in extra time at the Al Janoub Stadium.
AGMK progressed thanks to a Ruben Sanchez goal. The Uzbek side return to the competition for the second time in their history after 2021 when they finished fourth in their group despite collecting a respectable tally of seven points. The first chance of the game fell Al Arabi’s away as Omar al-Soma lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out but his shot could not drop soon enough, ending up slightly over the crossbar.
At the other end, Mirjamol Kosimov curled a corner towards the far post where defender Sardor Rakhmanov escaped marking and met it with a header that ended up hitting the outside of the netting. Youngster Simo Keddari came within a whisker of opening the scoring for the home side in the 22nd minute as he climbed and guided a header towards goal following a set-piece sent into the box, but his attempt narrowly missed the target.
Uzbek goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev was put to the test at the hour mark as Tunisian forward Youssef Msakni fired an effort from outside the box, but the AGMK goalkeeper made a flying save to tip it behind.
Siavash Haghinazari nearly scored a wonder goal midway through the second half after a string of intricate passes saw AGMK break into the Qatari penalty area and the Iranian midfielder looked to apply the finish but his shot was collected by goalkeeper Jassim al-Hail.
AGMK finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go on the clock as Abdulla Abdullaev advanced down the left and delivered a low cross towards Sanchez who took it first time on the half volley, with his strike finding the back of the net via the crossbar. Head coach Mirdjalal Kosimov’s side will learn their opponents in tomorrow’s group stage draw.
Earlier, after a goalless 90 minutes, second half substitute Doniyor Abdumannopov sealed the win for Navbahor in the 98th minute against Al Wakrah. Navbahor were the early aggressors when Asad Sobirjonov tried to catch Al Wakrah napping in the fifth minute by playing a through ball to Ibrohim Yoldoshev, who was however flagged offside. Al Wakrah came alive two minutes later with forward Mohamed Benyettou forcing a save from Navbahor keeper Utkir Yusupov after Murad Naji’s dangerous cross into the box.
It was end to end action as Navbahor came close to scoring in the ninth minute when Toma Tabatadze was denied by Omair al-Sayed, in what would be the Uzbekistan’s side only shot on goal for the remainder of the half.
Al Wakrah wasted numerous chances to score with Hamdy Fathy missing a headed attempt, while Ahmed Fadel and Lucas Mendes had their efforts foiled by Yusupov.
Benyettou almost found a way through in the 34th minute when his header just missed the target, while Fathy saw his chance to break the deadlock foiled again at the stroke of half-time. Navbahor were the better side in the second half, first testing Al Sayed in the 54th minute through Sobirjonov before forcing a fine save from the custodian following Temurkhuja Abdukholikov’s shot from distance in the 76th minute.
Navbahor were then given a numerical advantage in the 86th minute following Khald Youssef Shurrab’s dismissal after a second yellow card as the game went into extra time.
Navbahor’s patience was finally rewarded in the 98th minute when substitute Abdumannopov rifled home his effort from an acute angle, finishing off Shakhboz Djurabekov set-up to seal the victory and earn the Uzbekistan side their maiden appearance in the group stage.