Bani Yas need one more point to reach AFC second round
Captain says it would be big achievement for the team's debut year
Abu Dhabi: Bani Yas have kept their hopes of progressing from Group B alive with a 4-0 victory away to whipping boys Al Arabi of Qatar.
Bani Yas now need just a point from their final group match at home against Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan to reach the second round in their debut year in the AFC Champions League.
"It would be a big achievement if we reached the second round," said Fawzi Bashir, captain and striker for Bani Yas.
"It is our first participation in the continental competition and succeeding to reach the second round against more experienced teams like Pakh-takor, who did not miss a single competition since 2003 when the AFC CL started, is a big feat and I do hope that we achieve that goal because it will save our season after losing the President's Cup final and having a middle place in the league standings."
‘Our best match'
Bashir, also the captain of Oman's national team, said of Wednesday's win: "We played our best match this season both in defence and attack and our concentration was high.
"We have good players and all we needed was to give the match our full focus," he added.
Bashir opened the scoring and Spaniard, Francesco Yeste, added the second goal from a 30-yard free-kick.
In the second half, Nawaf Mubarak scored a spectacular goal with a beautiful 35-yard volley when a clearance by the home goalkeeper came his way.
Andre Senghor then completed the damage in the 71st minute.
