Al Wahda no match for Lokomotiv Tashkent
abu dhabi — Al Wahda became the second UAE side after Al Wasl to be eliminated from the AFC Champions League 2018 campaign. The newly crowned Gulf Cup champions showed little resistance as Lokomotiv Tashkent netted four goals in the Group B encounter at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday night.
Lokomotiv had hammered five goals against Al Wahda in the opening match. So, this was a tough mental test for the hosts and Lokomotiv made it difficult with a goal in the fourth minute.
Lokomotiv midfielder Sardor Mirzayev made good with a through cross from the right flank by defender Shukhrat Mukhammadiev and slotted the ball to the top left corner. It was a fine goal set up by Mukhammadiev, who combined well with Sanjar Shaakhmedov and Marat Bikmaev before crossing it for an advancing Mirzayev to fire a rocket past keeper Mohammed Al Shamsi.
The assault unsettled Al Wahda and the hosts pushed in search of an equaliser. And in 10 minutes, the ‘Clarets’ came close with talisman Ismail Matar’s shot from the right flank but the ball sailed over.
Moments later Matar had another go from outside the box with a direct free-kick. And in 20 minutes, the Al Wahda veteran again asked question from the edge of the box but his delivery was saved.
Al Wahda hadn’t had the rub of the green as midfielder Mohamed Al Akbari’s close-range effort crashed into the right post. Al Wahda dominated in phases with hardworking Matar and exuberant Al Akbari working in tandem but there was no goal to show for the efforts.
Al Wahda survived a scare in 35 minutes as dangerous Ikromjon Alibaev’s attempt on goal went high. However four minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage with an easy goal. Lokomotiv won a freekick for a tackle by Khaled Al Dhanhani on Mirzayev. The midfielder’s lob into the box bounced just in front of the keeper and went into the goal. It was a leap by unmarked Kakhi Makharadze to head the ball which might have distracted Al Shamsi. It was, however, another hapless piece of defending by the home team. In additional time of first half, Al Wahda’s Sebastian Tagliabue and Mourad Batna combined well outside the box but the Argentinian’s effort just missed the mark.
After the break, Lokomotiv continued to dominate. Sanjar Shaakhmedov had two attempts on goal in space of seven minutes. And in 55 minutes, he finally scored through a pass from Nivaldo.
Al Wahda players were distraught and Tagliabue and Batna ended up getting booked over fouls. Al Wahda did score a consolidation goal through Khaled Al Dhanhani’s header of a corner from Khalil Ibrahim. However, Al Wahda’s miserable night winded up with an own goal through Ahmed Rashid making it 4-1.
With a Group B game remaining, Al Wahda sit last with three points, Zobahan and Lokomotiv with six points apiece will vie for the final spot as Al Duhail (15 points) have qualified into the next round.