Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Muscat: Fanja maintained their winning start to the 2013 edition of the AFC Cup with a 2-0 win over Yemen’s Ahli Taiz in Group B action at the Seeb Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Ely Cisse gave his side the lead in the 29th minute before Mohamed Al Maashari doubled Fanja's advantage eight minutes later to add another three points to those collected in the 4-0 win over Lebanon’s Al Ansar on Matchday 1.
“We faced a defensive team who played with five defenders and it was very hard to get to our opponents goal,” said Fanja coach Hicham Al Jadran.
“We had a good first half but in the second period our performance dropped because the players were tired.
“We are happy that we managed to get the three points although the performance was not convincing for us.
“We tried our best to increase the result in the second half but the players failed to take advantage from the chances that we had.”
The Omani side were in control from the first whistle but it took until almost the half-hour mark for Fanja to take the lead, when Cisse headed home after a cross from the right by Salah Al Siyabi.
By the 37th minute, Fanja had increased their advantage when Cisse turned provider, playing the ball to Al Maashari, who chipped the ball over Ahli Taiz goalkeeper Omar Abdulaziz to score.
Ahli Taiz came out in a more determined fashion in the second half but rarely looked capable of troubling the Fanja defence and, with 13 minutes remaining, the Omanis could have increasing their lead further, but Mohamed Al Hinai’s effort was saved by Abdulaziz.
“I’m happy with the performance especially because the players were in a good form,” said Ahli Taiz coach Sami Naash.
“The first goal came after a defensive mistake and we shouldn’t have conceded that goal but this is football.
“In the second half, our team improved and the players showed a better level of performance.
“Our players are young and I believe what they showed tonight will definitely help them to improve in the future.”