AFC Challenge League
Altyn Asyr Zafar Babajanow’s first-half goal at the Changlimithang Stadium was cancelled out by Kenean Maleko and Hatem Al Rushadi’s brace, with Al Shabab to meet Group B winners Kuwait SC in the quarter-finals.
Al Shabab’s Al Rushadi’s low drive from outside the area in the fourth minute sounded the boards after missing the left post by inches - a shot his teammates Mohamed Al Ghafri and Yousuf Al Malki replicated minutes later.
The Oman side had good opportunities to take the lead in the first 20 minutes, but poor finishing and wet conditions stymied attempts by Musab Al Maamari, Al Ghafri and Al Rushadi.
Altyn Asyr struck against the run of play just before the half hour mark when Babajanow rose above defender Majid Al-Saad to head in from close range following a corner from Hosgeldi Hojowow.
Yaseen Al-Sheyadi and Al Malki were denied the equaliser when Dovletyar Berdiyev saved their long-distance attempts before Kenean Maleko made sure a minute before the break by collecting a through ball from Mahmood Al Khusaibi and running between two defenders before sliding the ball past the keeper’s outstretched arms.
Al Shabab’s strong start to the second half paid off as they went one up in the 53rd minute when Al Rushadi’s shot from outside the area dipped beyond Berdiyev’s reach.
Rahman Myratberdiyew came close to levelling the score in the 66th minute when he connected with a looping cross from Hojowow, but his first-time touch in the area went just wide of the left post.
Hojanazar Gurbanov’s header from a tight angle on the right 11 minutes later was tipped over by Ibrahim Al Mukhaini while Hojowow, so precise with his crosses, ballooned his shot from outside the area in the 78th minute.
Al Rushadi put the match beyond doubt two minutes into time added on when he latched on to a pass from Maleko - who evaded the defence down the left - and calmly chipped his shot past an out-of-position Berdiyev.
Related News
- AFC Challenge League
Group A: Paro FC (BHU) 3-3 FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ)
- AFC Challenge League
Group B: Kuwait SC (KUW) 2-0 Bashundhara Kings (BAN)
- AFC Challenge League
Group B: Al Seeb Club (OMA) 1-2 Al Ansar FC (LBN)
- AFC Challenge League
Group C: FC Regar-TadAZ (TJK) 1-2 Safa SC (LBN)
- AFC Challenge League
Group C: Al Arabi SC (KUW) 1-1 FC Muras United (KGZ)
Item 1 of 5