ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-ASIA-C1
Al Sadd make Asian Champions League knockouts, Welliton treble boosts
Sharjah’s hopes
DOHA, Sept 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Qatar’s Al Sadd made the last 16 of the
Asian Champions League after Group D rivals Sepahan and Al Ain could only
manage a goalless draw.
A 1-1 draw for Xavi’s side against Al Nassr made no difference to their
qualification, but was a more muted display in front of goal after scoring
seven goals in two matches since the tournament resumed last week following a
seven-month break because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Al Sadd, who won the tournament in 2011, had a great chance to go ahead as
early as the fifth minute but Baghdad Bounedjah, who was the beneficiary of a
measured pass from South Korea international Nam Tae-he, fired wide from
close range.
Goalkeeper Brad Jones then came to Al Nassr’s rescue later with a fine
save to foil Al Sadd captain Hassan al-Haydos after Akram Afif had done most
of the spadework on the left.
A few minutes later, Al Nassr’s Abdulfattah Adam challenged Al Sadd
goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb with a stinging shot but the latter was equal to the
task and cleared the danger.
Al-Sheeb however displayed a lack of technique in the 22nd minute when
Khalid al-Ghannam drilled the ball through his legs from a tight angle to
give Al Nassr the lead.
After a few more chances were fluffed by both teams, Al Sadd finally found
the net three minutes from time, with Bounedjah firing home after receiving
the ball via Afif and Nam.
“It was a tough game. We were not good enough in the first half, and in
the second half we were better,” said Xavi.
“Today, we showed two faces of the team in the two halves. I’m angry with
the first half, and happy with the second.
“I told the players that we had to change our values, the rhythm and the
mentality, and this happened in the second half. We scored the goal and we
got a good point against a strong team.”
– Welliton boots Al Taawoun –
Elsewhere Brazilian striker Welliton scored a hat-trick as the UAE’s
Sharjah thrashed Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun 6-0.
Sharjah, who were languishing at the bottom of Group C with just four
points from as many matches, climbed to third spot, while Qatar’s Al Duhail
are on top with nine after beating Iran’s Persepolis 1-0 in an earlier match
on Monday.
Sharjah and Persepolis are on seven points and Al Taawoun are on six,
leaving Group C wide open with all four teams still capable of making the
cut.
Sharjah scored five of their goals in the second half after Saif Rashid
had given them the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.
Welliton netted in the 49th, 57th and 61st minutes while Mohamed
Abdulbasit and Ciao each scored to complete Sharjah’s victory.
In the early Group C match, Almoez Ali scored for Al Duhail from the spot
in the 60th minute after Shojae Khalilzadeh’s foul on Edmilson resulted in a
penalty.
Isa al-Kasir missed the chance to level when he fired wide in front of an
open goal after Al Duhail goalkeeper Mohamed al-Bakri spilt the ball into his
path off a Bashar Resan shot.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0929 hrs