Qatar’s Al Sadd roared back into contention for knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League with a 2-0 win over Sharjah FC, while Al Duhail too kept their slim hopes alive with an identical victory over FC Istiklol yesterday.A goal in each half from Gonzalo Plato and Baghdad Bounedjah earned Al Sadd all three points against United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah in the Group B clash to move the 2011 champions onto seven points from five games with only their meeting with Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf left. Nasaf now lead the group with 10 points following their 3-1 win over Al Faisaly with Sharjah in second, two points adrift, and Al Sadd a further point behind. Al Faisaly have three points and have been eliminated.Only the group winners are guaranteed to advance to the last 16 alongside the three runners-up with the best records in West Asia. Al Sadd went in front in the ninth minute when Akram Afif was released down the left by Pedro Miguel’s low cross field ball, the winger cutting inside to unleash a low shot that was initially saved by Darwish Mohamed to his left only for Plato to convert the rebound.Miralem Pjanic almost unlocked the Al Sadd defence 17 minutes later, the Bosnian bending his free-kick into the box from 30 yards. Al Sadd’s Miguel made contact with his head, steering the ball towards his own goal and Meshaal Barsham pushed to safety. With six minutes remaining in the first half Al Sadd threatened a second. Afif’s ball from deep inside his own half sent Hassan al-Haydos scampering behind the Sharjah defence but, when the Al Sadd captain attempted to centre to the awaiting Bounejhad, the home side blocked and cleared. Pjanic was left frustrated when a pair of free-kicks were well off target in the early exchanges of the second half while Afif was also wayward with his attempt from a set-piece, but on the hour mark the Qataris doubled their advantage.Once again Miguel was at the heart of the action, powering in a cross from the left touchline that Bounedjah gleefully headed in from the edge of the six-yard box to see off Sharjah and reignite Al Sadd hopes of a place in the last 16.Olunga brace fires Duhailpast IstiklolMeanwhile, Michael Olunga twin headers earned Duhail a 2-0 win over FC Istiklol in Group E. The Kenyan scored in the 47th and 90th minutes to give Al Duhail their first win of the group phase and move Christophe Galtier’s side onto four points from five games ahead of their final match against Persepolis FC in two weeks’ time.The result sees Istiklol drop to the bottom of the standings and leaves the side from Turkmenistan with no chance of securing a top two finish. Al Duhail’s hopes, meanwhile, hinge on the outcome of Persepolis’ meeting with Al Nassr, which was being played late last night.Only the winners of each group are certain to advance to the last 16 while the three best runners-up in West Asia will also progress to the next phase. Ehson Panjshanbe saw his eighth minute goal-bound effort blocked by Olunga while three minutes later the Turkmenistan side had the ball in the net, only for Cedric Gogoua to be ruled offside after rolling his shot over the line following Alisher Dzhalilov’s free-kick.While Al Duhail were monopolising possession, it was the visitors who created the better chances with Senin Sebai’s low shot in the 19th minute another Istiklol effort that was frustratingly off target.Al Duhail thought they had been given a penalty when Olunga went down under a challenge by Gogoua only for referee Mohamed Nazmi Nasaruddin to overturn his decision to award the spot-kick upon reviewing the incident on the pitch side monitor.The Qataris took the lead two minutes into the second half when Olunga met Isaac Lihadji’s deflected cross from the right with a header that goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov clawed to apparent safety, only for the goal to be given after VAR confirmed the ball had crossed the line.Almoez Ali should have doubled his side’s lead 19 minutes from time but his header flew across the face of goal, while Olunga also had a view of the target less than minute later but fired over the bar. Olunga met Ismaeel Mohamed’s cross as the game went into the final minute to double his side’s advantage and confirm the three points for the home outfit despite an injury time red card for Ruben Semedo.
November 28, 2023 | 12:12 AM