AFC Challenge League
The Syrian side finished behind Lebanon’s Al Ansar FC in the standings, booking their place in the quarter-finals as the best second-placed side from the three West Zone groups.
Aleppo dominated the early proceedings, with Rihanieh and Hasan Dahhan threatening before Anas Al Dahhan tested Paro goalkeeper Lamin Saidy from distance.
Paro, however, were equal to the task in front of their partisan crowd, with Yuta Mishima picking out Riku Ichimura, who evaded his marker before firing a low shot that skimmed the outside of the left post in the sixth minute.
The sustained pressure almost caught the Syrian outfit out after Paro’s Sidiki Jawara brought the best out of Shaher Al Shakir from his free-kick, with Kinga Wangchuk failing to connect off the rebound, sending his effort across the face of the goalmouth.
Aleppo soon regained control but were unable to unlock Paro’s defence, with efforts from Anas Al Dahhan and Rihanieh blocked before Hamza Al Kurdi headed over from a set-piece situation.
Group A: Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo (SYR) v Paro FC (BHU)
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The second period started similarly to the first with Aleppo pouring bodies forward, Mohammad Rihanieh seeing his effort blocked before Jordan headed narrowly wide from a corner in the 51st minute.
Anas Al Dahhan and Sori Mane went close moments later before Aleppo broke the deadlock in the 56th minute after Al Shakir’s long goal kick found Firmino, who outmuscled his marker before applying a deft finish over the advancing Saidy.
The Brazilian forward almost doubled his tally four minutes later, rattling the crossbar from inside the six-yard-box after being set up by Al Dahhan.
Paro, however, refused to give up and their persistence was rewarded in the 76th minute after Hamza Al Kurdi inadvertently headed the ball into his own net off a corner.
There was to be heartbreak for Paro though as Aleppo restored their lead 10 minutes later when Al Dahhan sent a delightful cross for Rihanieh, who stayed composed inside the box to unleash a powerful curling strike into the top left corner to seal the win.
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