Al Wahda keep Asian hopes alive

Abu Dhabi: Mohammad Al Shehhi's equaliser five minutes from time helped hosts Al Wahda to a 2-2 draw against Qatar's Al Sadd Club and keep their hopes alive in the AFC Champions League.

With Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and Syria's Al Karama also playing out a 1-1 draw in Group C, Wednesday's result gives Al Wahda, last year's semifinalists, hope to salvage some pride.

Al Wahda forged ahead through their Brazilian professional Andre Luciano Pinga who made no mistake after young Eissa Al Marzouqi had done the spade work on the right flank.

But Al Sadd, who had won their opener against Al Ahli, dominated for most of the first session and struck just before the break through Carlos Tenorio.

Al Wahda, who lost 1-4 to Al Karama in their opener last week, seemed to be charting familiar territory when they fell behind, like they have done so often in their domestic season after opening the scoring. Brazilian Marcio Emerson, who has been recently granted Qatari citizenship and is not counted as a pro, scored in the 70th minute.

Poor form

However, Shehhi was on hand to find the roof of the net with that late strike which very well could sooth the bruised and battered home team.

It was their first draw after losing four consecutive matches in the First Division League and to Al Karama in Syria last week.

Ahmad Abdulhalim, Al Wahda's caretaker coach described his team's 2-2 draw as a positive result. "After last week's loss to Al Karama coming close after their poor form in the UAE league, tonight's result can do a lot to loft the morale of the team.

"At least they can look forward to the remaining matches with a better and more positive frame of mind," said Abdulhalim, who was given charge after the Abu Dhabi club sacked two coaches this season.

The Egyptian did experiment boldly with the UAE side as he rested Brazilian Josiel da Rocha and after he brought him on in the second half, Abdulhalim also took off star striker Esmail Matar.

"We have showed what our team is capable of and I hope we can build from this result," said Abdulhalim.

Al Sadd coach Hassan Harmatallah was however not very pleased with his side failing to pick up full points.

"We came here eyeing full points and to go back with one is a bit disappointing.

"However I won't blame my players as they did their best and we were the better side.

We missed a few chances"

Gamba Osaka came out on top in a seven-goal thriller on Wednesday while J-League champions Kashima Antlers strolled to another huge rout. Elsewhere, Adelaide United's campaign was set back by a 0-0 home draw with Changchun Yatai and Uzbekistan's Kuruvchi beat last year's runners-up Sepahan 2-0. Gamba, held by Chonburi last week, got their bid back on track with a pulsating 4-3 win away to South Korea's Chunnam Dragons.

With inputs from agencies

Results

AFC Champions League:

Group A

Al Ittihad 0 Al Ittihad 1

Kuruvchi FC 2 Sepahan 0

Group B

Al Jawiya 0 Kuwait SC 0 Saipa 2 Al Wasl 0

Group C

Al Ahli 1 Al Karama 1

Al Wahda 2 Al Sadd 2

Group D

Al Qadsia 1 Arbil 1

Al Gharafa 2 Pakhtakor 2

Group E

Binh Duong 1 P Steelers 4

Adelaide Utd 0 C Yatai 0 Group F

K Antlers 6 Nam Dinh 0 Beijing Guoan 4 K Thai Bank 2

Group G

C Dragons 3 Gamba Osaka 4

Chonburi 3 Melbourne 1

standings

Group C:

P W D L F A Pts

Al Karama 2 1 1 0 5 2 4

Al Sadd 2 1 1 0 4 3 4

Al Ahli 2 0 1 1 2 3 1

Al Wahda 2 0 1 1 3 6 1