Heartbreak and triumph for UAE in AFC Champions league group stages

Sharjah FC booked their place in the knockout stages. Al Wahda move one step closer, whilst Shabab Al-Ahli suffer elimination.

Al Wahda 1-0 Persepolis

The Red Giants ended Persepolis’s unbeaten record and closed the gap on the Iranians at the top of Group E by two points.

Slovenian International Tim Matavz netted the winner in the opening moments of the game to earn Henk ten Cate’s side their third defeat on the bounce in the group stage.

Yahya Golmohammadi’s side came into this game looking for their fifth straight win to advance into the knockout stages but suffered an early blow when Matavz skipped past a half-hearted Persepolis defence before smashing his effort into the roof of the net to give the hosts the lead.

Despite Persepolis’s current form in front of goal, the visitors found it difficult to find the back of the net and were nearly gifted an equaliser, Al Wahda defender Lucas Pimenta almost headed the ball into his own net, only for goalkeeper Mohammed Al Shamsi to pull out a great reaction stop to keep his side ahead.

The Abu Dhabi side looked in control of the game. Omar Khrbin attempted to score with an audacious chip from inside his own half Hamed Lak made a fine save to tip it over the crossbar.

Al Wahda had a slender lead and the pressure kept piling in the second half from the Iranian side. Pers Hossein Kanani headed just wide before Eshan Pahlavan’s superb effort rattled the crossbar with goalkeeper Al Shamsi beaten.

The visitors were handed an advantage in the last seven minutes of the game when Abdullah Anwar was shown a straight red card for a ridiculous challenge on Ali Shojaei but Persepolis couldn’t take advantage.

The Emirati side held their nerve in the dying moments of the game to seal the win, with their hopes of qualifying for the AFC Champions League last 16 looking more than possible now.

Credit: Al Wahda

Air Force Club 2-3 Sharjah

Sharjah FC confirmed their place in the knockout stages for the first time in 17 years after a tough encounter against Iraq’s Air Force Club.

The hosts ended a four game streak of not scoring in the ACL group stage after Collazos Viveros gave his side a surprising lead. The striker was the fastest to react and poke home after Ibrahim Bayesh’s initial shot was saved by Adel Al Hosani.

The King’s responded well to going behind and mounted the pressure on the Air Force defence, after a mistake at the back from Ali Khadim, giving Khalid Bawazir the opportunity to capitalise with a composed strike into the corner.

Minutes later, Bawazir who scored the first was involved in the second. The midfielder’s chipped past Salem Saleh who fired his effort into the near post. A great response from Sharjah from going behind.

The Iraqi side were not giving up and got their equaliser seven minutes into the second half after a superb ball from Shareef Abdulkadhim to open the Sharjah defence and there was Viveros who timed his run to perfection before slotting in from close range.

It wasn’t long till the UAE side responded. Just as Viveros netted two on the night, Saleh also scored two for himself. The striker leaped the highest to head Ali Al Dhahani’s cross and put the King’s back in the lead.

Following the victory, Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Anberi’s side secured top spot of Group B with 11 points and a place in the last 16.

Credit: Sharjah FC

Shabab Al Ahli 0-1 Iktiklol

Late drama saw Iktilol earn a dramatic victory and end the UAE’s side hopes of progressing in the AFC Champions League.

It was Al Ahli who took charge of the first half and controlled the possession, unfortunately for them, they struggled to test goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov.

A few minutes after the restart a calamity at the back for the Al Ahlu defence nearly let Manuchekhr Dzhalilov have a tap in but goalkeeper Majed Nasr did well to claim hold of the ball.

Similar to the opening half with not a lot of chances as the Red Knights kept pushing for that opening goal. A few shouts of a penalty for the hosts who surrounded the referee but nothing came of it.

As we approached that last five minutes of the game where we saw more action than we did the whole 90 minutes. Al Ahli came close on two occasions. Carlos Eduardo had his header saved before minutes later Majed Hassan saw his effort come off the crossbar.

The points were looking to be shared until Istiklol stole the victory right at the death. A mix-up between defender and goalkeeper allowed Muhammadjon Rahimov to feed captain Alisher Dzhalilov who calmly slotted in the back of the net and send the Tajikistan side top of group A and eliminate the UAE side.