Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Manama: Reigning champions Air Force Club mounted an incredible comeback to record a 4-3 win over Bahrain’s Malkiya in their 2018 AFC Cup Group A tie on Monday.
Debutants Malkiya stunned their visitors to go 3-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes. First, it was Isa Al Bari who tapped in from point-blank range via a corner kick to open the scoring in the eighth minute.
Al Bari was on target again a minute later, after he got on to the end of Mustafa Mohammed’s back pass to round the keeper and slot into the empty net to make it 2-0.
The dream start continued with a third goal in the 14th minute. Syrian midfielder Israa Hamwia converted from a corner in similar fashion to Al Bari’s first goal to worsen Air Force’s struggles in the opening half.
The two-time champions recovery, however, got underway in the 28th minute through another Syrian international as Zahir Al Medani swept home Humam Tariq’s cross from a free-kick to reduce the margin.
Amjed Radhi gave the Iraqi side further hope, rifling in on a half-volley with 20 minutes to go. Ten minutes later, captain Hammadi Ahmed completed the comeback with well-struck finish from Radhi’s squared pass.
Air Force Club, however, were not finished as Radhi completed a thrilling night for the Iraqi side after latching on to Samal Saeed’s through pass and rounding the goalkeeper to finish into an empty net with practically the last kick of the game.