Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Beirut: Akram Moghrabi equalised in second-half stoppage time as Lebanese side Nejmeh held on to second place in Group B of the AFC Cup after a 1-1 draw with defending champions Kuwait Sporting Club at Sports City Stadium on Wednesday.
Kuwait SC appeared to be en route to a fourth win in five games when Ali Al Kandari put the group leaders ahead in the 82nd minute. But Nejmeh battled back and their efforts were rewarded when Moghrabi equalised in added time at the end of the match.
The draw did not prevent Kuwait SC from clinching first place in Group B but it was of great importance to Nejmeh, who kept pace with Omani side Fanja in the race for second spot. Both teams are tied on six points but the Lebanese side are second in the group due to their better record in the head-to-head clashes between the two teams.
“I’m happy with the result but at the same time I’m not satisfied with the performance because we missed several chances and we could have got a better result,” said Nejmeh coach Theo Bucker.
“The draw is satisfying for us but we were under big pressure and we could have scored more than once.”
“The goal that we scored gave us a point and we fielded some young players today who lacked the necessary experience. There are a lot of things that we should fix before the next match which is important and we must win in order to qualify.”
Nejmeh were the better side in the opening half and they created some good scoring chances although they could not find a way past goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al Hesainan.
Their best early chance fell to Moghrabi in the 16th minute who fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area onto the crossbar.
Kuwait SC improved in the second half but the game looked destined to finish goalless until the 82nd minute when a defensive error presented the lead to the visitors.
Kassem Al Zein attempted to head the ball back towards goalkeeper Mohamad Hammoud but substitute Al Kandari stole in and took possession before sliding the ball past Hammoud.
It could have been a fatal blow to Nejmeh’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage but the Lebanese club were able to get back on level terms in the second minute of stoppage time.
Khaled Takaji crossed the ball into the box when Abbas Atwi was able to flick the ball into the path of Moghrabi who fired home from close range.
“The result was good because it gave us the top spot in the group and now we have to turn our attention to the big match that we have in the league against Qadsia SC,” said Kuwait SC coach Marin Ion.
“This match was good for us as we had the opportunity to use new players and hopefully we can continue our good performances. We have a heavy schedule and I hope that the players will be able to cope with this schedule and not be affected negatively.”