Dubai: Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic hailed the Blue Wave’s historic qualification to the last 16 of the Asian Champions League following a goalless draw away to Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv Tashkent in Wednesday’s final round of group games.
Both sides needed a draw to qualify leading to an inevitable stalemate. If Al Nasr had lost their final game in Group A, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad would have overtaken the Oud Mehta outfit into second thanks to their 2-0 win away to Iran’s Sepahan.
However, the draw ensured Jovanovic’s side finished runners-up behind Lokomotiv, level on nine points with Al Ittihad - and that they progressed due to a better head-to-head record over the Saudis.
Al Nasr will now play Iran’s Tractor Sazi in the second round, first playing at home in Dubai on May 17 and then away in Tabriz on May 24.
“Today is a historic moment for our team,” said Jovanovic. “We have qualified for the last 16 of the Asian Champions League, so Al Nasr is among the best 16 teams in Asia. No one said we would do it before the tournament. We were not favourites, but we could achieve this result.
“Lokomotiv like to control the ball. This is why we wanted to close the space for our opponents to create chances and counter attacks.”
Lokomotiv’s Ikromjon Alibaev twice tried his luck from long range early on, but the first effort was parried by Ahmad Shambih and the second went wide. Between those attempts Server Djeparov crossed into the six yard box, but no one could react quickly enough to convert the chance.
Jires Kembo Ekoko fired over for Al Nasr from the edge of the area early in the second half, while Sanjar Shaakhmedov tested Shambih’s reactions with a 20-yard shot. But in the end neither side showed any urgency to break the deadlock. “I congratulate my team on qualifying to the next stage,” said Lokomotiv coach Andrey Miklyayev, whose side will now face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal. “We were able to complete the first part of our mission.
“Our opponents played defensive football tonight. They did not give us space to go on the attack. Our plan was to score an early goal, but we couldn’t do it. We played for the result in the second half.”
Al Nasr are the second UAE club to qualify for the last 16 this season after Al Ain finished runners-up in Group D with a 2-0 win over Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi on Tuesday. The Boss will now face Iran’s Zob Ahan at home in Al Ain on May 18 and away in Isfahan on May 25.
The only other UAE side participating, Al Jazira, were already eliminated and finished bottom of Group C even before Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat away to Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
