Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: Bunyodkor failed in their attempt to pick up their first win of the 2016 AFC Champions League campaign as Sergey Lushchan’s side were held to a 0-0 draw by Lekhwiya at Abdullah bin Jassim Stadium on Wednesday.
The point earned was Bunyodkor’s third in the competition this season and means the Uzbek side end the campaign bottom of Group B, with Lekhwiya finishing in second place behind Zobahan to qualify for the knockout phase.
Bunyodkor, who reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League in 2008 and 2012, have now missed out on a place in the knockout phase for two seasons in a row, the first time that has happened since the club first appeared in the continental championship eight years ago.
Lekhwiya, meanwhile, finish the group stage on nine points having bounced back from a defeat at the hands of Zobahan on Matchday One to seal their place in the next phase of the competition for the third time in four seasons.
“We put in a good performance and we played without any pressure. We shared the dominance with Lekhwiya in addition to creating some chances,” said Lushchan. “We used this match to give some experience for the players as we didn’t have a chance to qualify to the knockout stage.
“Lekhwiya are a good side and they played well. We tried our best to get a positive result and I’m satisfied with the performance of the players and with everything that they have showed tonight.”
Just six minutes into the game, Dioko Kaluyituka found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhurov but the DR Congo striker’s shot was blocked at close range.
AFC Young Player of the Year Dostonbek Khamdamov was at the heart of everything positive being done by the Uzbeks, with the 19-year-old shooting just over the bar from inside the area in the 31st minute.
Moments before break, he went closer still after being released behind the Lekwhiya defence by Akramjon Komilov’s neat backheel, only for Khamdamov to steer his attempt millimetres wide of Amine Lacomte’s far post.
Lekhwiya dominated possession throughout the game despite fielding a weakened side that missed the likes of Nam Tae-hee and Youssef Msakni, but chances were few and far between for both sides.
Eldor Shomurodov fired off a weak shot from distance that caused few problems for Lacomte 15 minutes from time while substitute Shakhzodbek Nurmatov sent his effort just past the post.
Neither side could find a way through and, as Bunyodkor exit the tournament, Lekhwiya will hope to put in a stronger performance when they take on El Jaish in a all-Qatari Round of 16 encounter in two weeks’ time.
“We gave the chance for some young players to gain some experience from the match,” said Lekhwiya coach Djamal Belmadi. “We played well in the match and the performance was solid even though some of the players were playing for the first time this season.
“We tried our best to score but we didn’t convert the chances we created as the players lacked the necessary experience. The most important thing is that we secured our place in the knockout stage before the match and the players had a good performance tonight which is good for us.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports