Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah: Substitute Saleh Al Amari’s goal 11 minutes from time delivered Al Ahli a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Nasaf in the AFC Champions League as Christian Gross’ side leapt to the top of Group D on Wednesday night.
Omar Al Soma had put the Saudi club ahead with 20 minutes on the clock before captain Artur Gevorkyan levelled with a spectacular free kick on 65 minutes for Nasaf.
But thanks to Amiri Kurdy’s sublime assist, Al Amari was able to put Al Ahli back in front on 79 minutes to give the Jeddah-based club their first win of the 2015 continental campaign and put them ahead of Nasaf, as well as Iranian club Tractorsazi Tabriz who earlier in the day had beaten Emirati champions Al Ahli 1-0 in Tabriz.
Al Ahli, who had shared a 3-3 draw with namesakes Al Ahli of the UAE in Matchday One, had made four changes from last week’s continental opener with Waleed Bakshwn, Aqeel Al Sahabi, Salman Muwashar and Motaz Hawsawi starting for Gross’ side.
Visitors Nasaf, meanwhile, made just the one change from the team that defeated Tractorsazi Tabriz in Qarshi, with Sherzod Azamov replacing Oleksandr Kablash.
Gross sees room for improvement for Al Ahli
It was the hosts, though, who began the stronger with Bakshawn sending through Osvaldo on goal on 13 minutes but Eldorbek Suyunov bravely charged out of his goal to block at the feet of the Brazilian striker.
And with Al Ahli continuing to remain on top they made the breakthrough seven minutes later as Syria striker Al Soma found space between the two centre backs to head home Mohamed Abdelshafi’s pinpoint leftwing cross.
Nasaf worked hard to play their way back into the game but offered little end product, while Osvaldo could have doubled the lead before half-time but directed his header straight into the arms of Suyunov.
In the second period, Al Soma went close to getting his brace 10 minutes after the interval, but he was denied this time by the Nasaf goalkeeper who was alert to the danger as the Syrian looked to capitalise on some slack defending by the Uzbek side.
Nasaf had improved since coming out for the second half though, and Gevorkyan put his team back on level terms in stunning fashion after the hour mark with a sumptuous freekick from 25 yards out that screeched into the top right-hand corner and left goalkeeper Abdullah Al Maiouf with no chance.
But with 11 minutes remaining of the tie, Al Amari took advantage of Suyunov’s hesitation to come for fellow substitute Kurdy’s wicked cross from the right and he buried his header past the stranded Nasaf custodian.
Defender Khamza Karimov went within inches of salvaging a point for the visitors in the final minutes of the match, but his bundled shot from the penalty area bounced just the wrong side of the post for the Uzbek club as Al Ahli claimed victory in front of their fans.
Photo: WSG