Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Amman: Ashraf Nu’man scored a pair of late goals as two-time AFC Cup winners Al Faisaly of Jordan secured their place in the quarter-finals for the first time in six years with a 3-1 win over Bahraini side Al Riffa on Tuesday.
Khalil Baniateyah gave the home side the lead in the Round of 16 match just before half-time and Al Faisaly hung on to their advantage at the Amman International Stadium until Nu’man struck twice in three minutes late on to put the game out of reach of the visitors.
Salman Isa pulled a goal back for the Bahraini side shortly before the end but it proved to be only a consolation as Al Riffa were sent crashing out of the competition.
“We went into the game with one target which is to qualify for the quarter-finals and have a good end to the season,” said Al Faisaly coach Feras Al Khalaileh.
“We motivated the players and asked them to give their best in this match and they were good today. The first goal that we scored was really important especially as it came at the end of the first half. We played with good balance and we managed to finish the game with two more goals and I would like to thank the players for their great performance tonight.”
Al Faisaly were on top early on but they created few real chances and allowed the visitors into the game as the half progressed.
The Bahraini club could even have taken the lead in the 35th minute as Mladen Jovancic chipped the ball forward to Abdulla Abdo, whose backward header looped just over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Mahmoud Al Mawwas took advantage of a slip by Al Faisaly defender Yousef Al Naber to break clear with only Mohamad Shatnawi to beat but the Al Faisaly keeper kept his cool to turn aside his effort.
That save would prove crucial as Al Faisaly went ahead just before half-time. A free kick from the right by Abdulelah Al Hanahneh was flicked by Khalil Baniateyah towards the Al Riffa goal and it would probably still have gone in if Al Riffa defender Mohamed Duaij had not got managed to get a touch on the ball just before it crossed the line.
Al Riffa were stung into action in the second half and they went close to an equaliser as Hamed Rakea shot over and Nu’man sent a glancing header just wide of the far post.
However, Al Faisaly began to take control of the match again midway through the second half as Nu’man beat two defenders before shooting wide and Baniateyah volleyed home superbly only for the effort to be disallowed for offside.
But Nu’man would seal the win, finishing off well in the 82nd minute after a neat through ball by Yusuf Al Naber and then receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Baniateyah before accelerating into the area and sliding a shot past goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi.
Salman Isa beat Shatnawi with two minutes to go in the game but it was not enough to prevent Al Faisaly from marching on to the last eight of the competition.
“We knew that the match would be very hard and it was,” said Al Riffa coach Dzemal Hadziabdic:
“Al Faisaly are a big team and they have good capabilities and impressive players who played a good match and knew how to win in order to advance to the next round.
“We played well in the first half and we wanted to maintain our run of clean sheets but we conceded a late goal which affected us. I told the players at half time to hold it together and give their best but we made defensive mistakes in a critical time to concede two quick goals.”
“We knew that the match would be very hard and it was,” said Al Riffa coach Dzemal Hadziabdic:
“Al Faisaly are a big team and they have good capabilities and impressive players who played a good match and knew how to win in order to advance to the next round.
“We played well in the first half and we wanted to maintain our run of clean sheets but we conceded a late goal which affected us. I told the players at half time to hold it together and give their best but we made defensive mistakes in a critical time to concede two quick goals.”
Photo: WSG