Action from the AFC Champions League match between UAE’s Al Jazzeam and Qatar’s Al Rayyan at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Doha: Qatari side Eljaish and Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan split the points after the two teams finished all square following a 0-0 scoreline in the AFC Champions League Group B opening fixture at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday.
Eljaish hit the woodwork twice through Abdurhaman Akbar and Brazilian striker Nilmar in the second half, as well as boasting the lion’s share of the possession, but they were unable to make a breakthrough against the away side’s tough defensive line.
The result means that Group B is all square after Saudi Arabian champions Al Fateh also shared a goalless stalemate with 2012 semi-finalists Bunyodkor of Uzbeksistan in yesterday’s other evening game. In Abu Dhabi, a second half header from teenage substitute Ahmed Gheilani proved the difference as Al Jazira edged out Qatar’s Al Rayyan 3-2 in a Group A opener.
Two goals inside the first 10 minutes from Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo and Moroccan frontman Abdelaziz Barrada had handed Al Jazira the ideal start only for Al Rayyan’s Argentinean midfielder Lucho Gonzalez to give the visitors hope just before the hour mark.But fortunately for Arabian Gulf League side Al Jazira, Gheilani headed home with 16 minutes remaining having only been on the field for less than a minute before Nigerian Kalu Uche struck for Al Rayyan in stoppage time. Agencies
