AFC Champions League Elite
A brace by Houssem Aouar and one apiece by Moussa Diaby and Fabinho saw Al Ittihad cruise to victory despite being reduced to 10 men early in the second half, with Al Shorta suffering a second consecutive defeat.
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Al Shorta had the home fans on their feet in the fifth minute when Mehdi Ashabi’s flick of a corner found an unmarked Bassam Shakir, who headed in from close range past a rooted Predrag Rajkovic.
That set the early tone of the match with Al Shorta going in search of a second while Al Ittihad tried to regroup.
That set the early tone of the match with Al Shorta going in search of a second while Al Ittihad tried to regroup.
The Saudi Arabian champions, who lost their earlier two matches, gradually found their footing and drew level in the 17th minute when Mahamadou Doumbia robbed the ball off midfielder Boubacar Moumouni just outside the area and sent a perfectly weighted chip to Diaby, who rose to head the ball past a diving Ahmed Basil into the bottom left corner.
Al Ittihad’s constant pressing saw them go ahead in the 29th minute when former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho’s free-kick from some 25 yards curled past the outstretched Basil and into the bottom right corner.
Al Ittihad’s constant pressing saw them go ahead in the 29th minute when former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho’s free-kick from some 25 yards curled past the outstretched Basil and into the bottom right corner.
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Al Shorta came close to drawing level eight minutes later when Dominique Mendy’s screamer of a shot from 30 yards went past Rajkovic, only to crash against the underside of the bar before being blasted over by Shakir.
Al Ittihad’s aggressive start to the second half suffered a setback five minutes in when Danilo Pereira picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Mendy.
Al Ittihad’s aggressive start to the second half suffered a setback five minutes in when Danilo Pereira picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Mendy.
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Despite their numerical disadvantage, Al Ittihad continued to maintain their tempo and pulled further ahead in the 60th minute when Diaby laid up on the right for Aouar who - with Basil caught off position - slotted home into an empty goalmouth.
Al Shorta pushed forward in search of their second goal, but it was Aouar who found the back of the net again when he latched onto a pass from Diaby and with Basil again caught off position, fired from the centre of the area past three players guarding the goalmouth.
Al Shorta will look to collect their first win when they face Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC on November 3 while Al Ittihad meet Sharjah FC of the UAE the following day.
Al Shorta pushed forward in search of their second goal, but it was Aouar who found the back of the net again when he latched onto a pass from Diaby and with Basil again caught off position, fired from the centre of the area past three players guarding the goalmouth.
Al Shorta will look to collect their first win when they face Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor FC on November 3 while Al Ittihad meet Sharjah FC of the UAE the following day.
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