NASAF 0-1 AL AHLI, AL AIN 1-1 PAKHTAKOR - ACL

Al Ahli left it late to register their first 2015 AFC Champions League victory with a 1-0 away win at Nasaf in Uzbekistan, giving the Dubai side 6 points in Group D. The Emirati team missed two gilt-edged chances to get ahead in quick succession before the half-time break, and on both occasions it was UAE striker Ahmed Khalil who came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock. The first chance saw the forward drag a left-footed shot wide after Nasaf’s defence had failed to deal with a deep cross and left him unmarked with a free shot at the back post, and the second was on a rapid counter-attack with two-against-one, but, with the goalkeeper already beaten, instead of squaring for Ossama Assaidi up in support, Khalil elected to shoot but could only find the side netting. But it was the second-half introduction of substitute Everton Ribeiro which proved to be the turning point for Al Ahli, as the Brazilian struck in the 81st minute to put the Red Knights 1-0 up via a deflected curling shot. Goalkeeper Dida had to be alert in the final minute to divert a potential equaliser behind for a corner, whilst deep into injury time Ahmed Khalil almost added a second for the visitors as his rasping free kick was fingertipped over the crossbar. After 8 minutes of stoppage time, Al Ahli were able to celebrate a vital first ACL victory of the campaign.  


Meanwhile in Group B, Al Ain dropped points with a 1-1 home draw against Pakhtakor, putting Zlatko Dalic’s side on 6 points from 4 games. The UAE side were in front after 20 minutes at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium; Jires Kembo-Ekoko applying the composed cross-goal finishing touch to a fine team goal, putting Al Ain 1-0 up. But Pakhtakor countered with an equaliser in added time at the end of the first half as Igor Sergeev rose highest at the back post to head a looping cross beyond Khalid Essa and level the scores at 1-1, as Al Ain rued several earlier missed opportunities. Into the second half, Korean midfielder Lee Myung Joo came closest to restoring Al Ain’s lead in the 54th minute with a near miss after neat build-up play in the box, and in the 80th minute Diaky’s curling free kick skimmed the side netting, but The Boss couldn’t find a winner and had to make do with a share of the spoils.