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The result takes Al Ittihad to four points from three matches while Uzbekistan’s Neftchi, who beat Iraq’s Air Force SC in their opener, are one adrift.
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Playing on home turf Istiqlol Stadium, a confident Neftchi strung together their first move two minutes in when Alisher Odilov tested Predrag Rajkovic from distance.
Al Ittihad took longer to settle, and George Ilenikhena, arriving too late in the ninth minute, failed to connect to Muhannad Al Shanqiti’s inviting pass across the face of goal by seconds.
Al Ittihad took longer to settle, and George Ilenikhena, arriving too late in the ninth minute, failed to connect to Muhannad Al Shanqiti’s inviting pass across the face of goal by seconds.
Ilenikhena again found himself in the spotlight, but for the wrong reasons, when the striker handled the ball in the area in the 13th minute.
The penalty was awarded after a VAR review, and while Rajkovic got his right hand to the ball, Jamshid Iskanderov’s spot-kick proved too powerful and crashed into the top right.
Neftchi found the net again in the 27th minute but Alisher Odilo’s header was ruled offside.
The penalty was awarded after a VAR review, and while Rajkovic got his right hand to the ball, Jamshid Iskanderov’s spot-kick proved too powerful and crashed into the top right.
Neftchi found the net again in the 27th minute but Alisher Odilo’s header was ruled offside.
Al Ittihad’s pressing paid off in the 34th minute when Houssem Aouar rose above defender Koffi Kouao, connected to Steven Bergwijn’s cut-back from the left and headed home at the far post before keeper Botirali Ergashev could find his bearings.
Ergashev then pulled off a brilliant one-handed save from Ilenikhena’s stinging drive from the left to close the half with little separating both sides in terms of scoring opportunities.
Ergashev then pulled off a brilliant one-handed save from Ilenikhena’s stinging drive from the left to close the half with little separating both sides in terms of scoring opportunities.
MD3: PFC Neftchi (UZB) v Al Ittihad Club (KSA)
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The visitors stormed out after the break, but Neftchi’s Michel came closest to a second goal when his looping header struck the right post in the 58th minute and bounced on the goal line before a stunned Rajkovic snatched the ball.
Ergashev palmed away a rising shot from Al Shanqiti on the left of the area in the 72nd minute as play swung from end to end before En-Nesyri struck on the dot of regulation time.
Ergashev palmed away a rising shot from Al Shanqiti on the left of the area in the 72nd minute as play swung from end to end before En-Nesyri struck on the dot of regulation time.
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The striker, who came on in the 63rd minute, curled in a brilliant free-kick from 25 yards into the bottom left past a rooted Ergashev to give Jens Wissing’s side the first win of their campaign.
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