AFC Women's Champions League
Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva struck within seconds of the opening whistle and Lyudmila Karachik confirmed the win four minutes before the end as Melbourne, finalists in 2024/25 and semi-finalists last season, were left rueing the result after dominating the tie.
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The hosts took the lead in emphatic fashion within the first minute when Khabibullaeva bent low to connect to captain Nilufar Kudratov’s cross, the striker positioning herself between two defenders to guide her header past Malena Mieres.
Defensive errors led to both keepers stepping up in the 11th minute - Nasaf’s Maftuna Jonimqulova palming away a fiercely-struck shot by Melina Ayres and Mieres coming off her line to block Mehribon Egamberdieva’s strike from inside the box.
Defensive errors led to both keepers stepping up in the 11th minute - Nasaf’s Maftuna Jonimqulova palming away a fiercely-struck shot by Melina Ayres and Mieres coming off her line to block Mehribon Egamberdieva’s strike from inside the box.
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Melbourne kept their momentum steady as Deven Jackson’s rising drive was parried away by Jonimqulova in the 20th minute while Ayres and Aideen Keane - both within close heading distance of the target - failed moments later to meet Karly Roestbakken’s inviting cross.
Ayres did connect to a Keane lay-up from the left on the half-hour mark but the striker’s header was cleared by Maftuna Shoyimova before it could bounce past the line as Melbourne headed into the break with the lion’s share of opportunities but with nothing to show for.
Ayres did connect to a Keane lay-up from the left on the half-hour mark but the striker’s header was cleared by Maftuna Shoyimova before it could bounce past the line as Melbourne headed into the break with the lion’s share of opportunities but with nothing to show for.
Group C: Melbourne City FC (AUS) v PFC Nasaf (UZB)
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The Australian side did not let up in the second half as Keane tried her luck with a curling shot in the 55th minute while Rebekah Stott, with the Nasaf defence in disarray following a corner, skied her effort two minutes later from outside the six-yard box.
Keane’s joy at finally finding the back of the net in the 73rd minute was cut short when she was flagged for offside, with the decision confirmed by a FVS review.
Keane’s joy at finally finding the back of the net in the 73rd minute was cut short when she was flagged for offside, with the decision confirmed by a FVS review.
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Nasaf, who fell back under the Melbourne pressure, had a look at goal in their rare forays upfield through Grace Adams, whose 78th-minute header off a corner was easily collected by Jonimqulova while Mehribon Egamberdieva bent her shot just wide of the left post four minutes later.
Nasaf then snuffed out Melbourne’s hopes of a fightback in the 86th minute when Mieres fumbled Karachik’s side-footed attempt from the left, with the custodian scrambling after the ball but to no avail.
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