Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Beirut: Al Hidd reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup on Tuesday after a goal by Abdulwahab Al Malood early in the second half gave the Bahraini newcomers a 1-0 victory over Lebanese double winners Safa at Sports City Stadium.
Safa went into the Round of 16 match with an unbeaten record in this year’s competition but the 2008 AFC Cup runners-up were unable to find a response after Al Malood had struck in the 53rd minute for tournament debutants Al Hidd, who finished second in Group C behind last year’s beaten finalists Qadsia SC.
The victory sent the Bahraini side into the draw for the last eight which will take place on May 28.
“The match was tactical and was decided through small details,” said Al Hidd coach Khalifa Al Zayani. “Safa controlled proceedings but without any real threat while our players carried out the instructions that we gave them and this gave us the victory.
“We scored the winning goal from a counter attack and we could have scored another goal. I’m satisfied with the performance of our team and I want to console Safa players who are young and have bright futures.”
Having taken 16 of a possible 18 points in Group A including a memorable 8-0 demolition of Tajik side Ravshan, Safa were regarded as the favourites for the last 16 game but while they were the better side early on, they were unable to take their chances.
Al Hidd were on the back foot during the opening exchanges but their form improved as the match went and they were deservedly in front in the 53rd minute after some fine approach work by the visitors.
Al Malood received the ball outside the Safa box and he played a neat one-two with Abdulla Fatadi before racing into the box and firing a low shot past Mahdi Khalil to give Al Ain a 1-0 win.
Safa were unable to muster a response and they could have fallen further behind three minute from time as Al Malood sent a neat cross towards Akarandut Orok who crashed the ball against the upright with a right-footed shot.
It was a glaring miss but it did not affect the final outcome of the match as Al Hidd held on for the 1-0 win which sealed their passage into the next round.
Safa assistant coach Jihad Mahjoub felt that his team’s lack of experience and their low morale after a heavy league defeat last week proved costly.
“The team suffered a surprising defeat in the league which cost us the title and there are other factors which affected us not only in this match but throughout the competition including several injuries,” said Mahjoub.
“On the other hand, our opponents played their best side with good Bahraini and foreign players. We had young players who lacked experience and that proved vital at this stage of the competition.”