Abdy Bashimov struck twice in the first half to secure Turkmenistan’s FC Ahal a 2-1 win against FC Alay of Kyrgyz Republic in their 2019 AFC Cup Central Zone Preliminary Stage first leg at the Akhmatbek Suyinbaev Stadium on Wednesday. The two sides had met in the 2018 edition, where...
Ceran admits nerves before crucial spot kick
Despite coolly tucking the ball into the bottom corner, Dragan Ceran has admitted he felt nervous prior to opening the scoring from the spot in Pakhtakor's 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates’ Al Nasr that saw them progress to the AFC Champions League group stage. After beating Iraq’s Air...
Play-off: Al Rayyan SC 3-1 Saipa
A last-minute double-salvo helped Al Rayyan come from behind to defeat Islamic Republic of Iran’s Saipa 3-1 in a 2019 AFC Champions League play-off match on Tuesday. The home crowd at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium were left stunned as Saipa took an early lead inside four minutes as Mohammadreza Soleiman...
Play-off: Al Gharafa 2-3 Zobahan FC
Islamic Republic of Iran’s Zobahan completed a remarkable comeback to overcome Al Gharafa 3-2 in a 2019 AFC Champions League Play-off tie on Tuesday The Iranian side had to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second half to progress to the group stage. Al Gharafa broke the deadlock halfway through...
Play-off: Al Nasr 1-2 Pakhtakor
Goals from Dragan Ceran and Marat Bikmaev either side of the break helped Pakhtakor overcome UAE’s Al Nasr 2-1 to reach the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage. In a game that saw three penalties awarded for handballs, it was the Uzbeks who emerged victorious at Al Maktoum Stadium in...