FC Nasaf produced their best display of the AFC Champions League 2022 Group E, dispatching Al Sadd 3-1 and consigning the two-time champions to a second consecutive group stage exit on Saturday.
An Akmal Mozgovoy brace, coupled with Husain Norchayev's goal saw Nasaf take a three-goal lead by the 77th minute, with Rodridgo Tabata scoring a consolation for Al Sadd in added time.
The win pushed Nasaf up the standings with eight points to their name, while dashing Al Sadd's hopes of a top two finish in Group E.
Al Sadd started on the front foot and could have taken the lead inside 40 seconds when Santi Cazorla’s cross from the left was sent back across the face of goal by captain Hassan al-Haydos for Andre Ayew who took it on the turn from six yards out, but goalkeeper Abdvokhid Nematov produced a fine save to hold on to the ball.
Nasaf responded with their first attempt on goal a minute later as Oybek Bozorov advanced from the left and cut back for Marko Stojevic who took it first-time but was denied by a flying Meshal Barsham save.
The fiery start gave way to a rather combative rest of the first half with late efforts from Boualem Khoukhi and Sukhrob Nurulloyev at either end the only notable attempts on target, both being saved by the respective goalkeepers.
The Uzbek side finally opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when Akmal Mozgovoy dispossessed Cazorla deep inside Al Sadd half and darted into the box to collect the return pass from Husain Norchaev before applying a composed finish past Meshaal Barsham.
With 15 minutes to go, a swift counterattacking move saw Ivan Solovyov feed Husain Norchaev with a fine through ball and the 2021 AFC Cup top scorer beat the offside trap before placing his shot into the bottom corner for his first-ever AFC Champions League goal.
Al Sadd's woes were compounded two minutes later when goalkeeper Barsham slipped allowing Bozorov to take possession of the ball inside the box and cross for Mozgovoy to head home for the third. Meanwhile, Barsham’s slip forced him off with an injury to be replaced by Saad Al Sheeb.
Rodrigo Tabata pulled one back for Al Sadd but the 41-year-old’s half-volleyed strike in added time was too little too late as the Qatari champions were sent crashing out of the competition.
Nasaf’s hopes of progression will hinge on their ability to get a result against Al Wehdat on the final matchday, while Al Sadd bow out against group hosts Al Faisaly on Wednesday.
An Akmal Mozgovoy brace, coupled with Husain Norchayev's goal saw Nasaf take a three-goal lead by the 77th minute, with Rodridgo Tabata scoring a consolation for Al Sadd in added time.
The win pushed Nasaf up the standings with eight points to their name, while dashing Al Sadd's hopes of a top two finish in Group E.
Al Sadd started on the front foot and could have taken the lead inside 40 seconds when Santi Cazorla’s cross from the left was sent back across the face of goal by captain Hassan al-Haydos for Andre Ayew who took it on the turn from six yards out, but goalkeeper Abdvokhid Nematov produced a fine save to hold on to the ball.
Nasaf responded with their first attempt on goal a minute later as Oybek Bozorov advanced from the left and cut back for Marko Stojevic who took it first-time but was denied by a flying Meshal Barsham save.
The fiery start gave way to a rather combative rest of the first half with late efforts from Boualem Khoukhi and Sukhrob Nurulloyev at either end the only notable attempts on target, both being saved by the respective goalkeepers.
The Uzbek side finally opened the scoring in the 63rd minute when Akmal Mozgovoy dispossessed Cazorla deep inside Al Sadd half and darted into the box to collect the return pass from Husain Norchaev before applying a composed finish past Meshaal Barsham.
With 15 minutes to go, a swift counterattacking move saw Ivan Solovyov feed Husain Norchaev with a fine through ball and the 2021 AFC Cup top scorer beat the offside trap before placing his shot into the bottom corner for his first-ever AFC Champions League goal.
Al Sadd's woes were compounded two minutes later when goalkeeper Barsham slipped allowing Bozorov to take possession of the ball inside the box and cross for Mozgovoy to head home for the third. Meanwhile, Barsham’s slip forced him off with an injury to be replaced by Saad Al Sheeb.
Rodrigo Tabata pulled one back for Al Sadd but the 41-year-old’s half-volleyed strike in added time was too little too late as the Qatari champions were sent crashing out of the competition.
Nasaf’s hopes of progression will hinge on their ability to get a result against Al Wehdat on the final matchday, while Al Sadd bow out against group hosts Al Faisaly on Wednesday.