AFC Champions League Elite - Perfect Shabab Al Ahli delight Jardine

Dubai: Andre Jardine was delighted as Shabab Al Ahli made it a three wins on Tuesday, joining fellow United Arab Emirates side Al Ain FC as the only teams still perfect in the West Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™.

The 2-0 victory against Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal FC, however, did not come easily and head coach Jardine was pleased to see how his players passed a stern test.

#ACLElite | Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) 2-0 Esteghlal FC (IRN)

“I congratulate Esteghlal on their performance and I also commend our own players for their mature and intelligent display,” said Jardine.

“The match required a great deal of patience, especially since our opponents defended with a large number of players, making it difficult for us to reach their goal.

“We managed to remain patient and handle the flow of the game effectively. Furthermore, we did not allow our opponents to create many chances, which was a key factor in securing the win.”

With the starting XI not able to find the breakthrough after a balanced first half, Jardine called for change near the hour mark and the substitutions turned the game in favour of Shabab Al Ahli.

Sardar Azmoun was the architect but it was substitutes Matheus Lima and Juan Alvina who got the goals with Jardine praising the strength of the squad.

“Once again, our substitutions proved highly effective. I want to praise the players who came off the bench; they are making vital contributions, which reflects the team's overall readiness and ability to navigate challenging matches.

“This victory brings us closer to achieving the goals we set for ourselves in this tournament, and we must continue our hard work in the coming phase.”

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