Karshi: A vital Everton Ribeiro strike gave UAE champions Al Ahli their first victory of the 2015 AFC Champions League as they edged past Nasaf with a 1-0 victory that saw them leapfrog the Uzbek club into second place in Group D with just two matches remaining.
And with Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz drawing 2-2 with top placed side Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Everton Ribeiro’s 80th minute winner not only secured his club their first win of the competition but also sees them vault from the foot of the table to just three points off their namesakes at the summit.
While both sides had chances in each half to break the deadlock at Karshi Central Stadium, a cagey affair in front of a partisan home crowd was dominated by a battle to control the midfield and allowed for few clear-cut opportunities.
Nasaf forward Ilkhom Shomurodov did have a gilt edged opening on 27 minutes, though, as the striker collected a long ball over the top and surged into the area, only to see his low shot well saved by Ahmed Mahmoud, standing in for suspended number one Majed Naser, in the Al Ahli goal.
But it was visitors Al Ahli who should have gone into the halftime break a goal to the good as United Arab Emirates striker Ahmed Khalil raced on to a through ball, rounded Nasaf goalkeeper Eldorbek Suyunov, but rolled the ball into the side netting from a slight angle with the goal at his mercy.
Following the interval, Nasaf captain Artur Gevorkyan was next to go close before the hour mark as his 25-yard freekick stung the fingers of Mahmoud who was forced to palm the ball behind from the Turkmenistan forward.
At the other end, Khalil, who was involved in much of Al Ahli’s brighter moments going forward, then linked well with Ossama Assaidi but drove his first-time shot wide shortly before second-half substitute Everton Ribeiro was denied by Suyunov’s sprawling save.
Although Al Ahli had enjoyed a spell of dominance in the second half, Nasaf fired a warning shot on the 75th minute as substitute Ilhom Yusunov’s speculative volley from 20 yards flashed dangerously close to Mahmoud’s top left-hand corner as it flew wide.
But five minutes later, Al Ahli found the breakthrough. Captain Luis Jimenez broke forward down the centre before finding Everton Ribeiro lurking on the right flank.
The Brazilian stepped inside Roj Rok, let fly from the edge of the area, and saw the ball spin off Nasaf defender Erkin Baydullaev and swerve past a wrong-footed Suyunov into the net.
Substitute Shohruh Gadoev had a final chance for Nasaf in the dying minutes of the match, but his effort from 12 yards out was deflected just wide of Mahmoud’s right-hand post.
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