AFC Cup QF (1st leg): Hanoi T&T 0-1 Arbil

Radhi struck in the 44th minute when he forced his way between two defenders to meet Nabeel Sabah's corner with a firm downward header into the net.

Arbil could have increased their advantage as Khaldi Jaffal hit the woodwork and Saad Abdulameer also went close but the 2012 AFC Cup runners-up still have a precious advantage to take into the return match at the Sports City Stadium in Beirut next Tuesday.

The Iraqi side had not played a competitive match in more than three months but they began the match in the ascendancy and they could have gone again as early as the eighth minute when Luay Sallah's pass over the Hanoi defence sent Radhi clear only for the Arbil forward to be denied by goalkeeper Duong Hong Son in a one-on-one situation.

Hanoi's best chance of the half fell to Nguyen Van Quyet in the 18th minute but he could not find a way past goalkeeper Jalal Hachim.

Arbil continued to dominate the play and they went ahead a minute before half-time when Hong Son misjudged the flight of Sabah's corner from the right which sailed over his head and found Radhi who nodded his side into the lead.

The visitors could even have added a second before the interval as Khaldi Jaffal's long-range effort came back off the upright.

The home side came out stronger in the second half but they had little to show for their possession with their best opportunity falling to Pham Thanh Luong who saw his 56th minute effort saved by Hachim.

Arbil looked to be the more dangerous team on the counterattack and they went close to adding to their advantage in the 73 minute when Sabah headed narrowly wide from 10 metres out.

They went even closer two minutes from time when Saad Abdulameer launched a stinging drive from 35 metes out that would have found the top right corner of the Hanoi net if not for a fine save by Hong Son.

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Photo: WSG