AFC Champions League Elite - MD6: Pakhtakor (UZB) 1-1 Al Ain FC (UAE)

#ACLElite | Pakhtakor (UZB) 1 - 1 Al Ain FC (UAE) — AFC Champions League Elite
MD6: Pakhtakor (UZB) 1-1 Al Ain FC (UAE)
Wed, 04 December, 2024

Tashkent: Reigning continental champions Al Ain continue to cling on to their hopes of a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 after Leonardo Jardim’s side earned a 1-1 draw with Pakhtakor despite playing the final 35 minutes in Tashkent with 10 men.

Soufiane Rahimi struck in the 49th minute to cancel out Otabek Jurakuziyev’s sixth minute opener before Yahia Nader was sent off for a dangerous tackle in the 55th minute to leave the holders short-handed.

The draw moves Al Ain onto two points and leaves the champions three adrift of eighth-placed Esteghlal in the west league standings with two matches remaining while Pakhtakor are one point further ahead of the side from the United Arab Emirates.

Pakhtakor went in front with only six minutes on the clock, the hosts attacking down the left through Makhmudjon Makhamadjonov before the ball was played into the path of Diyor Holmatov.

Holmatov’s initial shot was parried by Al Ain goalkeeper Khaled Eisa as he dived to his left to deny the midfielder, only for Jurakuzieyv to instinctively throw himself at the rebound to head home.

Nader almost levelled the scores within a minute, the midfielder sliding a shot from 10 yards just wide of Vladimir Nazarov’s left post as the home defence struggled to clear the ball.

A tense and fractious first half, which had seen Abdulla Abdullaev’s attempted cross hit the woodwork for the hosts, drew to a close with Pakhtakor missing the opportunity to go further ahead when Jurakuziyev squandered a gilt-edged chance deep into injury time.

Bekhruzbek Askarov claimed possession deep inside his own half before striding forward to thread a perfect pass behind the Al Ain defence into the path of Jurakuziyev, who had the goal at his mercy only for Eisa to deny the forward with his feet.

The hosts were to regret that miss four minutes into the second half when Al Ain pulled level through Rahimi. Last season’s leading scorer was released by Matias Segovia’s first-time pass and the nerveless Moroccan converted into the bottom corner.

Al Ain’s hopes were hit within minutes, however, when Nader was dismissed by referee Ahmad Al Ali for a dangerous tackle on Doniyor Abdumannopov although Kodjo Laba flashed his 68th minute header across the face of goal as the Emiratis continued to push.

Segovia then released Rahimi on goal again but this time Nazarov forced the striker wide before astutely blocking his attempt to centre with his feet. Moments later Jurakuziyev cleared Park Yong-woo’s header off the goal-line.

Laba went close again with a 75th minute header that beat Nazarov but flew past the outside of the post and, with seven minutes left, he volleyed wildly off target.

Nazarov then denied Kouame Kouadio from point-blank range and Muhammadrasul Abdumajidov headed against the crossbar at the other end as both sides desperately sought a winner that never came.

MD6: Pakhtakor (UZB) 1-1 Al Ain FC (UAE)

MD6: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 1-1 Gwangju FC (KOR)

MD6: Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS) 0-0 Buriram United (THA)

MD6: Pohang Steelers (KOR) 3-1 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

MD6: Central Coast Mariners (AUS) 0-4 Yokohama F. Marinos (JPN)

Sanchez revels in Al Sadd’s tactical masterclass