Nasaf progress to Asian CL last 16 with Al Sadd draw

RIYADH: Nasaf Qarshi sealed their place in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League as a 2-2 draw with Qatar’s Al-Sadd in Doha on Monday took the Uzbekistan side into February’s knockout rounds.

A late double from Jambul Jighauri proved decisive as Nasaf picked up a point to top Group ‘B’ ahead of Al-Sadd, who took second spot after Sharjah from the United Arab Emirates slumped to a 2-1 loss against Jordan’s Al-Faisaly.

Matheus Uribe had given former champions Al-Sadd a fifth minute lead when goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov flapped at the Colombian’s long-range strike but an 83rd minute header from Jighauri pulled Nasaf level.

Jighauri put his side ahead in the 90th minute with a delicate lofted finish but Baghdad Bounedjah swept in from close range to earn Al-Sadd a point.

The draw means Al-Sadd finish ahead of Sharjah, who imploded in Amman to crash out of the competition against already eliminated Al-Faisaly.

Mohamed Firas had given Sharjah the lead 11 minutes before the interval but a late collapse cost the Emiratis the chance of a spot in the next round.

Reziq Bani Hani levelled in the 90th minute and moments later Sharjah’s Majid Rashid was sent off for a second bookable offence before Rafik Al Kamergi put the Jordanians in front.

A second red card followed for Miralem Pjanic as Cosmin Olaroiu’s side finished with nine men and dropped to third.

Al-Sadd must wait for the outcome of the remaining games in the western half of the competition to see if they can claim one of the three best runners-up spots in the last 16.

Sepahan will also be keeping a close eye on those matches after their 2-1 loss against Al-Ittihad condemned the Iranians to second place in Group ‘C’ behind the Saudi side.

Saleh Al-Amri gave Al-Ittihad the lead in Mecca with a dipping free kick in the 14th minute before Ramin Rezaeian levelled for Sepahan three minutes into the second half.

Jota slipped the ball through Payam Niazmand’s legs in the 69th minute to earn Al-Ittihad a fifth win, guaranteeing them top spot in the group and leaving Sepahan sweating.

Also in Group ‘C’, Iraq’s Air Force Club condemned Uzbekistan’s AGMK to a sixth successive defeat with a 3-2 victory in Erbil. Both teams went into the match without any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds.

Four-time winners Al Hilal ended their group campaign unbeaten thanks to a 2-1 home victory against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran.

The Saudi side, runners-up last year, had already qualified for the last 16 as Group D winners, allowing manager Jorge Jesus the luxury of starting in-form striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and attacking midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on the bench.

Ruben Neves, another summer signing, was not part of the squad, with Brazil superstar Neymar out for the majority of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee on international duty in October.

However, Al Hilal needed only four minutes to take the lead against Nassaji Mazandaran at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, when winger Michael finished Mohammed Al Breik’s low cross at the back post.

Al Hilal, who replaced Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou at half-time, doubled their advantage on 54 minutes courtesy of a clever half volley from reigning Asian Player of the Year Salem Al Dawsari.

Mitrovic and Milinkovic-Savic were introduced on the hour mark, although it was not enough to prevent Nassaji Mazandaran from pulling a goal back 13 minutes from time. Mahmoud Ghaed Rahmati halved the deficit with a thunderous volley following a clearance from Al Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly.

In the group’s other match, Navbahor from Uzbekistan defeated Mumbai City 2-1 in Pune to take second in the group and their tally of 13 points will be enough to secure one of the slots in the last 16.