Regardless of lacking two penalties, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal overcame Uzbek facet Navbahor 2-0 to progress to the Asian Champions League knockout phases.
Regardless of lacking two penalties, Al-Hilal ran away 2-0 winners towards Navbahor [Getty]
4-times winners Al-Hilal confirmed their place within the final 16 of this 12 months’s Asian Champions League on Tuesday after the Saudi Professional League facet beat Uzbekistan’s Navbahor 2-0 regardless of a pair of missed penalties from Salem Al-Dawsari.
The win for the guests at Markaziy Stadium in Namangan takes Al-Hilal onto 13 factors from 5 video games in Group D and the Saudi membership’s higher head-to-head file over Navbahor means Jorge Jesus’ facet can’t be supplanted on the summit.
Al-Dawsari, who was just lately named the Asian Soccer Confederation’s Participant of the 12 months, endured a depressing night time from the penalty spot, lacking the chance to place Al-Hilal in entrance within the eleventh minute.
The Saudi Arabia worldwide dragged that spot kick extensive earlier than squandering a second alternative from 12 yards on the different finish halfway by means of the second half.
Navabhor goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov saved out the second try, however substitute Malcom latched onto the rebound to attain together with his first contact having been launched from the bench moments earlier.
Al-Dawsari managed to redeem himself with 5 minutes remaining, nevertheless, scoring with a wonderfully judged lob from outdoors the world that sailed over the top of Yusupov to seal the win for Al-Hilal.
Whereas Al-Hilal have secured the group’s one assured place within the subsequent spherical, Navbahor are nonetheless in rivalry for one of many three finest runners-up berths within the subsequent part.
Samvel Babyan’s facet will tackle Mumbai Metropolis, who misplaced 2-0 to Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran on Tuesday in a conflict between the group’s two eradicated groups in Tehran, of their last group sport.
In the meantime, Uzbek facet Pakhtakor handed already certified Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates a 3-1 defeat in Group A to spice up their hopes of one of many runners-up spots within the subsequent spherical.
Eisa Khalfan had given Al-Ain the lead of their first sport within the competitors below new coach Hernan Crespo however Hojimat Erkinov struck twice after the interval and Dragan Ceran added a 3rd to earn Pakhtakor all three factors.
The win takes Maksim Shatskikh’s group onto seven factors and retains them one forward of Saudi Arabia’s Al Fayha, who received 3-1 towards Ahal from Turkmenistan.
That end result means Ahal are eradicated whereas Pakhtakor meet Al Fayha with each side needing a victory to boost their hopes of going into subsequent month’s draw for the final 16.
(Reuters)
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