Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bishkek: Emeka Onuoha’s second-half equaliser saw Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club (SJD) draw 1-1 with FC Alga and reach the 2016 AFC Cup Play-offs, with the back-to-back Bangladesh champions advancing ahead of the qualifying Group B hosts on goal difference.
The Nigerian striker, who scored the leveller as SJD came from behind to hammer Casa Benfica 4-1 in their qualifying opener, struck in the 78th minute to cancel out Ildar Arimov’s first-half opener.
The home side had the upper hand in the opening exchanges and took the lead 22 minutes into a cautious first half at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium when the Alga midfielder volleyed home after some sloppy defending in the SJD defence.
Saliev Askarbek came close to doubling the home side’s lead when he charged through the SJD defence only to see his shot deflected wide before the FC Alga defender headed narrowly wide from a corner, shortly after Gambian attacker Landing Darboe had fired a free-kick just over the Alga bar following a foul on second-half substitute Kasto Kumar Bosh.
SJD were indebted to keeper Md. Sahidul Alam for smartly saving a powerful Igor Kudrenko effort from just outside the area before Alga were punished for some hesitant defending when Darboe was allowed to break through the Kyrgyzstan side’s rearguard and cross for fellow African Onuoha to net the equaliser with 12 minutes remaining and seal the Bangladesh outfit’s place in the play-offs.
Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will be joined in the 2016 AFC Cup Play-offs by K-Electric, who topped Group A after hosts Druk United could only manage a goalless draw with Mongolia’s Khoromkhon in the final qualifying fixture in Thimphu.
Photo: WSG