Bunyodkor made Al Wahda pay for their defensive mistakes last night as two goals from Denilson sent them spinning to a 2-1 defeat in a Group B clash of the Asian Champions League at the Al Nahyan Stadium. A long ball caught goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani out of position for the opening goal after 36 minutes and then the Wahda defenders were caught napping for the game-clinching second five minutes from time.
Saeed al Kathiri, the substitute, pulled one back with a minute remaining but it came too late for Josef Hickersberger's side. Bunyodkor top the group and they looked good value for their position. Rivaldo, the World and European Player of the Year in 1999, pulled the strings from the midfield while Server Djeparov, the 2008 Asian Player of the Year, was a constant threat on the right wing. But it was the Bunyodkor defence that stood firm on the night.
Wahda had their chances in either half, but they were either off target or the efforts were saved by Ignatiy Nesterov. Ismail Matar came close to levelling but his effort from inside the box was pushed out by Nesterov in the 69th minute. He also unleashed a rocket that was pushed over the crossbar by the alert Nesterov on the half-hour mark. Al Jazira earned the first point for UAE clubs in this year's Champions League with a goalless, but entertaining, draw against Esteghlal in Tehran last night.
The result will probably not please Abel Braga, the Jazira coach, as the visitors dominated large stretches of the game and created enough pressure and chances to raise hopes of three points. The Abu Dhabi side, who lost their first game 2-1 to Al Gharafa at home, had a host of early chances and hit the bar through Khalid Sebil in the 42nd minute. The woodwork came to Jazira's rescue too just before the break, when Fabio Januario's side-foot volley bounced out off the bar.
In Group A's other game, Gharafa beat Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 3-2 at home and they top the table. Ahli are bottom after losing their first game 2-1 to Esteghlal. @Email:sports@thenational.ae