27/11/2023–|Last updated: 11/27/202311:30 PM (Mecca time)
The Saudi Al-Ittihad team qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after Abdul Razzaq Hamdallah scored two goals within 4 minutes in the first half to win 2-1 over its host AGMK of Uzbekistan on Monday.
Coach Marcelo Gallardo’s team reached 12 points in the third group to ensure passage to the knockout rounds before the end of the group stage.
Hamdallah opened Al-Ittihad’s goals after half an hour of play and made the score 2-0 in the 34th minute. Martin Boakye scored the home team’s only goal 12 minutes before the end.
Al-Ittihad started the match strongly and Karim Benzema tried twice, but his shots lacked accuracy before his teammate Saleh Al-Amri shot over the crossbar from close range in the middle of the first half.
From a run toward the goal, the Moroccan striker fired a low shot from a tight angle that passed between the feet of goalkeeper Valijun Rahimov.
Quickly, Al-Ittihad scored the second goal after Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti sent a low pass that Hamdallah turned into the net with one touch.
Match goals | #Ajmak Uzbekistan 1-2 #the Union Saudi#AFC_Champions_League #Ajmak_Al-Ittihad#Cass_channels pic.twitter.com/eL0g6vK1jD
– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) November 27, 2023
Bakhtyurion Kasimov fired a shot from long range that was blocked by Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf near the end of the first half, before he controlled Singer Tursunov’s shot after the break.
Despite Al-Ittihad’s control, Tursunov shot a low ball that passed in front of Al-Mayouf and Boakye turned it into the net to reduce the difference.
Hassan Kadish wasted a great opportunity for Al-Ittihad before the referee blew the final whistle.
AGMK remained at the bottom of the group without a point.
Ronaldo rejects a penalty kick in his favor
In the fifth group, Al-Nasr Saudi Arabia – who leads the group with 13 points – qualified for the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, despite its goalless draw with the Iranian Peruzzi, who is in second place with 8 points.
The match witnessed a rare incident in the stadiums, the hero of which was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nasr’s top scorer), for whom the referee awarded a penalty kick in the second minute of the match, but he rejected it.
During a struggle over the ball inside the Peruzzi penalty area, Ronaldo fell to the ground and the referee without hesitation awarded a penalty kick in favor of Al-Nasr, amid the players’ objection. However, the surprise was that the Portuguese star went to the referee and told him that it was not a penalty kick, so the latter decided to cancel it after returning to the video referee technology. the assistant.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer for Al-Nasr Saudi Club, gets a penalty kick, but tells the referee that it is not a penalty kick. Describe the Portuguese star’s behavior in one word.
#Victory_Persepolis
#AFC_Champions_League
#Cass_channels pic.twitter.com/mEDltbFMmJ– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) November 27, 2023
The match also witnessed Ronaldo being replaced due to injury, 4 days before facing Al Hilal at the top of the Saudi Professional League.
Ronaldo appeared in pain after a strong collision with goalkeeper Alireza Biranand at the beginning of the second half, and despite completing the match normally, he signaled to his coach for a change in the 77th minute to be replaced by Mohamed Maran.
Al-Nasr played with ten players since the 17th minute after Ali Lagami, the team’s defender, was sent off after a strong intervention in the midfield on Milad Sarlak.
Coach Luis Castro was forced to make an early change after the expulsion, by bringing in defender Mohammed Al Fateel instead of Sami Al Naji.
The referee canceled a goal for the visitors in the 52nd minute due to offside on Shehab Zahedi, who received the ball inside the penalty area and shot it into the net.
Al-Duhail Qatari victory
Also in Group E, Kenya striker Michael Olunga scored two goals in the second half to lead Al-Duhail to a 2-0 victory over its guest, Istiklal from Tajikistan, as the Qatari team achieved its first victory in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.
Coach Christophe Galtier’s team raised its score to 4 points in third place in the group, 8 points behind leaders Al-Nasr.
Al-Duhail played with 10 players after defender Ruben Semedo was sent off in the third minute of stoppage time for the match after obstructing the visitors’ player as he ran toward the goal.
Al-Duhail will conclude the group stage matches outside its stadium by facing Peruzzi, while Esteghlal will host its counterpart Al-Nasr.
Match goals | #Al-Duhail 2 – 0 #Istiklol Tajikistan#AFC_Champions_League #Al-Duhail_Istiklol#Cass_channels pic.twitter.com/rdchVb5uM0
– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) November 27, 2023
2023-11-27 20:15:00
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