Irbid: Defending champions Qadsia SC secured a return to the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup after edging out Jordan’s Al Wehdat 1-0 on Tuesday.
Kuwait’s Qadsia, who beat Iraq’s Arbil on penalties in last year’s final following a goalless draw, netted the only goal of the last 16 tie at Prince Hasan Stadium as Khaled Ibrahim’s 76th minute shot hit the post and crossed the line courtesy of a deflection off the shoulder of Al Wehdat goalkeeper Amer Shafi.
Rashed Al Bedaih’s Qadsia will now take their place in the June 18 quarter-final draw despite having been forced onto the backfoot for the majority of the contest.
With a place in the last eight at stake in the one-off contest, Group A winners Al Wehdat enjoyed the upper hand in the first half and put significant pressure on the Qadsia goal by controlling possession.
And Al Wehdat’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes arrived in the 29th minute as Baha' Faisal failed to direct a header from Monther Abu Amara on target from inside the penalty area.
But despite being forced onto the backfoot for the majority of the first half, Group C runners-up Qadsia almost took the lead in first half stoppage time only for goalkeeper Shafi to deny Abdulaziz Al Enezi after the forward had tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside of the area.
Al Wehdat continued to dominate in the second period and again created several chances to take the lead.
But after riding their luck, Qadsia snatched what proved to be the winner with 14 minutes remaining as Ibrahim skipped past Al Wehdat’s Amer Deeb before seeing his well-struck shot from outside of the area hit the left upright before bouncing off the shoulder of unfortunate goalkeeper Shafi on its way across the line.
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