Al Rayyan, Gharafa suffer loss in AFC Champions League

IKOLI VICTOR

DOHA AL RAYYAN suffered a 0-2 home defeat to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, due to an own goal by Mohamed al Aaeldin and a diving header from Saad al Harthi, in the final rounds of the group stages of the AFC Champions League played at the Al Rayyan Stadium, on Tuesday.

With the win, Al Hilal advance into the knock-out stage of the continental competition after garnering 12 points from their six group matches. The Saudi team are now a point behind Iranian side Esteghlal, who top the group with 13 points.

UAE’s Al Ain are third on the table with Rayyan finishing at the bottom of the group with four points.

In a game of few chances, Al Hilal had to wait until 12 minutes from time before opening the score when Al Aaeldin diverted the ball into his own net after goalkeeper Oumar Barry had saved Nawaf Al Abid’s close-range effort.

And five minutes later, Harthi doubled Al Hilal’s advantage when he slid in face first to head home Nawaf Al Abid’s cross from the left beyond Barry.

Al Hilal’s Brazilian striker Wesley (Wesley Lopez da Silva) should have given his side the lead late in the first half but failed to convert from the penalty spot, thumping his effort from 12 yards off the crossbar.

Earlier in the game, Alvaro Fernandez forced a sharp save out of Al Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah al Sdairy while at the other end Al Abid’s longrange attempt was straight at Barry.

With time running out in what had been a lacklustre half, Yasir al Shahrani crossed from the right and, although goalkeeper Barry dealt with Wesley’s header, referee Minoru Tojo pointed to the spot after Abdulrahman Mesbeh was adjudged to have handled the ball.

Wesley stepped up to take the spot-kick himself but, having elected to go for power over placement, he rattled the crossbar with a shot that saw the ball bounce back over his head and to safety.

That looked like being Al Hilal’s best chance to take the points but, with just 12 minutes remaining, the Saudis finally went in front.

Al Harthi cut the ball in from the left to Wesley, whose pass found Al Abid and, although Barry saved the initial shot, the ball ricocheted off Al Aaeldin and over the line.

Five minutes later, the two-time Asian champions doubled their lead and made sure of taking all three points when Abid crossed from the left and Harthi threw himself at the ball, turning it beyond Barry and into the goal from a tight angle.

In another match of the day, already qualified Al Gharafa suffered 3-1 away loss to Iranian side Sepahan.

The Iranian scored first from Jahan Alian on eleven minutes then Majdi Siddiq levelled score just a minute before halftime.

Two quick-fire goals in the second and tenth minute of the second half condemned the Qatari side to their second defeat in the group.

Lekhwiya need a point against El Ittifq to advance to the next stage and already qualified El Jaish will face Tractor Sazi of Iran.