Amir Cup champions Al Duhail fight back to beat Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 3-2

Buraidah: Reigning Amir Cup champions Al Duhail beat Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 3-2 in Group D match at the AFC Champions League here on Thursday.

In Group C, Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Shabab Al Ahli played out a 1-1 draw

Hernan Crespo’s men began the game on the front foot and threatened early on through Michael Olunga, who volleyed wide after Karim Boudiaf headed down Edmilsons cross into his path.

Khojimat Erkinov – the man who has an assist and a goal to his name already – almost managed to score from a corner 20 minutes into the game.

Taking advantage of the windy conditions in the stadium, he looped in a corner kick that hit the crosspost on its way out, but it did force goalkeeper Salah Zakaria into action to shield his net just in case.

Pakhtakor opened the scoring when Sardor Rashidov dribbled down the left and was met by Bassam Al Rawi who was swiftly brushed aside, before the Uzbek winger floated a cross that Oliver Sarkic rose highest to meet and expertly put past the keeper to make it 1-0.

Shortly after the break, Slavce Vojneskis men missed a chance to go further ahead when Erkinov broke forward down the right and eventually cut back towards Khojiakbar Alijonov who in turn teed up an onrushing Odiljon Khamrobekov, but the latters shot was saved by Zakaria. Moments later, Rashidov also missed a one on one thanks to the keepers reflexes.

Duhail eventually equalised after 66 minutes in exquisite fashion. Al Rawi played a defence splitting through ball from his own half which Edmilson gracefully controlled with one touch, before rounding Suyonov and tapping in to make it 1-1.

The game was end to end from then – Alijonov picked out an unmarked Sardor Sabirkhodjaev in lurking outside the area and sent a low cross his way, with the Pakhtakor man opting for power which paid off with 20 minutes left on the clock, bringing his side ahead again at 2-1.