ADVANTAGE AL NAHDA
Oman team will be upbeat after holding Al Riffa 1-1 in AFC Cup semifinal first leg
Muscat - Inters Gui’s header helped Al Nahda hold Bahrain’s Al Riffa to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their AFC Cup West Zone semi-final on Monday.
In the match played at Khalifa Sports City Stadium in Manama, Al Riffa took the lead in the 62nd minute through Ali Haram’s brilliant header but the Oman side came back strongly through Gui who found his target with a header after his first effort rebounded off the crossbar.
The goal and the result will surely give Al Nahda a big boost when the teams meet in the second leg at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Monday.
Al Kahrabaa win
In the other semifinal, Mohamed Zaher’s 20th minute strike secured Iraq’s Al Kahrabaa a 1-0 win over Lebanon’s Al Ahed.
Al Kahrabaa coach Luai Salah said he wanted an improved performance from his team in the second leg next Tuesday.
“We achieved an important win against a good team, but I am not satisfied with the performance,” said Salah.
“What made me happy is the level of concentration and cautiousness in both halves as this gave us the edge in the end.”
He admitted his team were rusty heading into the tie at the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex Stadium.
“The absence of official matches affected the team, and in Basra the performance will be different.
“We will a better performance in Basra, and I am sure that the
team will show its real identity.”
Al Ahed’s Rafat Muhammad said his side will have to find another gear if they are to keep their dreams of a second AFC Cup title alive.
“I thank the players for the ef
forts they made during the match but we wasted several chances, and we were not active offensively.
“The mission in the second leg is difficult, but we will fight until the end,” said Muhammad.
What made me happy is the level of concentration and cautiousness in both halves as this gave us the edge in the end LUAI SALAH, AL KAHRABAA COACH