It’s like a loss, says Al Sadd coach after 2-2 draw against Nasaf FC
DOHA: Qatar’i’s Al Sadd club were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Nasaf FC in the Group B clash yesterday.
The stalemate ensured Uzbekistan’s Nasaf confirm their place in the next round as group B winner.
Al Sadd, who needed to win to boost their own hopes of a place in the Round of 16, took a fifth minute lead through Mateus Uribe but two goals in seven minutes late in the match from Jambbuk Jighauri proved crucial in the outcome of both the game and the group.
Al Sadd finished second in the group on eight points and will now have to wait to see if that is enough to earn the two-time Asian champions one of the three best runners-up slots in the knockout rounds.
To go through, Sadd require Pakhtakor to beat Al Fayha and for local rivals Al Duhail to defeat Persepolis in Tehran today.
“It’s like a loss as we needed three points to enter the last 16 stage,” Sadd coach Wesam Rizik. “Although we have finished second in the group but the scenario has become very difficult for us now. I am satisfied with the team’s performance. We played with a high fighting spirit but wasted many opportunities to score.”
Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos admitted the team missed many scoring chances.
“Unfortunately, we have made things difficult for ourselves. We created many opportunities and could have won the match by availing these opportunities,” he said. “We failed to make our home fans happy but we promise them that we will bounce back in what comes next.”
