Doha: Sardor Rashidov scored with virtually the last kick of the game as Uzbek champions Bunyodkor secured their place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for the seventh year in a row with a dramatic 2-1 win over Qatari side Eljaish at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Eljaish only needed a draw to progress to the last 16 and they seemed to have achieved their target after Mohammad Muntari struck early in the second half to cancel out Sergii Symonenko’s early goal.
But Rashidov’s late volley ensured that it will be the Uzbek side who will be playing in the Round of 16 next month.
Having stated the game three points behind Eljaish in Group B, Bunyodkor began brightly and they took the lead in the 13th minute.
Sardor Sabirkhodjaev’s free-kick was dropped by Eljaish goalkeeper Ahmed Sofyan after he collided with one of his defenders.
Bakhodir Pardaev picked up the loose ball and although his shot was blocked by an El Jaish defender, Symonenko was able to turn it in from close range.
Eljaish improved after the break and they got back on level terms in the 52nd minute. A long ball from the back was chested down by Muntari and he then volleyed a powerful shot from just inside the area past goalkeeper Akbar Turaev despite the attention of of Hayrulla Karimov and Sergii Symonenko.
The Qatari side seemed to be on their way to the last 16 but in a frantic conclusion to the game, Bunyodkor snatched the victory.
A second-half brace from Boubacar Kebe and a goal from Mohammad Ghazi gave Esteghlal a 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Rayyan yesterday.
Agencies
