Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s Al Jazira and Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia secured their places from Group A in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after beating Al Rayyan from Qatar and Iran’s Esteghlal on Wednesday.
Al Jazira will host Al Shabab at Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday, April 26, in the final match of the group stage.
Al Jazira are second in the group with 10 points after beating Al Rayyan away 3-2 in a competitive encounter which the visitors dominated, but failed to score more than one goal from all the sitters they created.
Ali Mabkhoot, Felipe Caicedo and Juciele Da Silva all squandered easy scoring chances before Abdul Aziz Barrada found the bottom of the net in the 45th minute from a free-kick that beat Saud Al Hajri.
Barrada was then sent clear one minute after the break, but the Moroccan shot wide from inside the six-yard area and they were punished immediately when Al Rayyan netted a penalty.
Abdulla Al Hilali and Nigerian striker Alyegbeni Yakubu converted from the spot to level the scores in the 47th minute, while Moussa Haroon headed home a corner kick in the 53rd minute after capitalisingon a rare blunder from Ali Khaseef, the visiting goalkeeper and captain.
Al Jazira came back strongly and their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute when Barrada led an attack into the Qataris’ box and crossed to Mabkhoot, who placed home the equaliser.
Al Jazira continued to press for the winner, which came in the 90th minute when a corner kick from Barrada was deflected home by Al Rayyan’s Korean defender Cho Yong-Hyung.
Al Shabab lead the group with 12 points, while Esteghlal have four and Al Rayyan three.
“We knew it would be a tough encounter but we also knew that we had to win to continue in the competition,” Khaseef said after the match. “In such matches it is the result that counts despite the fact that we took almost complete control of the action in the first half and missed many chances to score.
“The team’s ability to come back into the match after losing their lead and trailing 2-1 was magnificent, and I do believe that with such spirit and performance we can go further in the competition this year.”
Al Jazira have maintained their superiority over Al Rayyan in the AFC CL, as in four matches they met in the continental competition, the UAE side have won all the matches.
