Al Faisaly record first-ever AFC CL victory

Jordan’s Al Faisaly recorded their first-ever win in the AFC Champions League, defeating Qatar’s Al Sadd 2-0 at the Amman International Stadium in Group B of the 2023/24 edition on Monday.Al Sadd had ran riot in the reverse fixture, winning 6-0 in Doha, but the Jordanians were determined to get one back.The first chance of the game fell to Baghdad Bounedjah who broke free inside the box to head Akram Afif’s long pass towards goal, but his attempt was saved by the Jordanian goalkeeper.Al Faisaly’s first effort saw Obieda Al Samrieh sneak into space behind Al Sadd defence to receive Ehsan Haddad intelligent lobbed pass, but his first-time effort on the half-volley passed just wide.At the other end, Bounedjah forced an exceptional flying save out of Noureddine Zayed after the Algerian got on the end of a fine pass from Gonzalo Plata who danced his way past multiple players before feeding Bounedjah whose powerful effort was parried away by the Al Faisaly goalkeeper.It was the hosts who opened the scoring 11 minutes into the second half when Reziq Bani Hani found space down the right and squared for Hatem Sultan who was left unmarked at the far post to tap-in the opener.Bani Hani could have doubled the Jordanians lead minutes later when he looked to convert Haddad’s pass from around the penalty spot but goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham was alert and made the save.As Al Sadd chased an equaliser, they pushed forward but were punished for the spaces left behind with just five minutes left on the clock as Aref al-Haj latched onto Amin al-Shanaineh’s through pass and applied an emphatic finish from a narrow angle to seal the victory for Al Faisaly. The win revives Al Faisaly’s slim chances of progress from the group as they take on Nasaf in Qarshi next, while Al Sadd need to get a result in Sharjah if they are to stay in contention for a round-of-16 place.Nasaf, Sharjah share points in Group B clashUzbekistan’s FC Nasaf and the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC played out a 1-1 draw in Group B of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 at Markaziy Stadium on Monday.Nasaf’s Jambuli Jigauri saw a penalty saved and a goal disallowed for offside in the opening 15 minutes before Moussa Marega broke the deadlock soon after as Sharjah took a slender lead into the interval.Mateus Lima levelled with ten minutes to play then Sharjah goalkeeper Adel al-Hosani was sent off just moments later for an off-the-ball incident before Alibek Davronov also saw red for a second bookable offence as the game ended level and Sharjah remained a point ahead of Nasaf at the top of the standings.After Sharjah won the reverse fixture 1-0 two weeks ago, it was Nasaf who began the brighter this time round and they were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute when Khaled Ebraheim was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Jigauri saw his ensuing spot-kick well saved by al-Hosani.Jigauri had the ball in the back of the net just minutes later when he headed home Sukhrob Nurulloev’s cross from the right, but this time the unlucky Georgian saw his goal ruled out for offside.And it was Sharjah who then took the lead in the 16th minute after Davronov failed to intercept Ousmane Camara’s pass from the right touchline and Marega beat the outrushing goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov to the ball before sliding it into the back of the net.Nasaf enjoyed most of the possession for the remainder of the half but struggled to create clear-cut chances as it was the visitors who went into half-time in front.Sharjah threatened early in the second half when Caio burst forward and fired an effort from distance goalwards, forcing Nematov to parry out to safety.The Uzbeks continued to see more of the ball and the equaliser finally arrived in the 81st minute when two substitutes combined as Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov’s cross from the right was headed into the back of the net by Lima from six yards out.And things went from bad to worse for Sharjah when al-Hosani was shown red after clashing with Nurulloev as the Emiratis were forced to play out the remainder of the game with 10 men.But Nasaf’s numerical advantage did not last long as Davronov was also given his marching orders for a second yellow card with the game in stoppage time to leave both sides a man down as the sides shared the points.Sharjah will next host Qatar’s Al Sadd on November 27 while Nasaf will welcome Jordan’s Al Faisaly to Qarshi on the same day.