Pakhtakor 0-1 Al Ain
Al Ain Stoch 60'
Red card Miroslav Stoch (Al Ain)
Man of match Fares Juma (Al Ain)
Playing without their two leading lights, Al Ain’s supporting cast proved talented enough in Tashkent to breathe fresh life into their Asian Champions League campaign.
Currently the UAE’s standout side, they had been standing still on the continent, fastened to two points from their opening two Group B matches. Yet Wednesday evening’s 1-0 victory at Pakhtakor, the Uzbekistan champions, vaulted Al Ain to the summit of Group B and, in the process, reshaped their chances of progression to the knockout stages.
The game’s defining moment came from Miroslav Stoch’s definitive strike on the hour, when the Slovak winger drilled a long-range effort low into the Pakhtakor goal.
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Stoch’s night ended on a sour note, though, courtesy of a straight red card 15 minutes from time. An altercation with the fourth official sealed his fate.
Al Ain were already without Omar Abdulrahman and Asamoah Gyan, the star duo sidelined by injury and infection, respectively. But they regrouped and responded to gain three points.
They more than warranted the win. Had Jires Kembo Ekoko not been so wasteful, particularly at the beginning of each half, Al Ain would have cruised through the encounter, always quicker to the ball and smarter in possession. Having begun their domestic defence only last week, Pakhtakor were second-best for the majority; or, at least, until Stoch saw red.
However, Al Ain stood firm. A frantic final few moments overcome, they resume Champions League duties on April 7 with realistic ambitions of advancing beyond the group.
Should they conjure another success against Pakhtakor, this time at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain can be confident of another sustained challenge in Asia, less than six months after they reached the semi-finals.
Competition will be fierce, no doubt, given Abdulrahman and Gyan should have returned to the starting line-up by then. Even if their absence were to continue, there was enough on show in Tashkent to suggest Al Ain can cope without their famous duo. Just like in 2014, 2015’s continental campaign could be epic.
Western Sydney are still in the hunt
Holders Western Sydney Wanderers remain second in Group H after settling for a goalless draw at FC Seoul in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.
The rigour of playing seven matches in three weeks before flying to Seoul was evident in Sydney’s display as they wasted several second-half opportunities against the side they beat in last year’s semi-finals.
Romeo Castelen fired wide, Labinot Haliti rattled the bar and Kerem Bulut squandered chances as Western Sydney moved on to four points with FC Seoul, two behind leaders Guangzhou Evergrande.
In Wednesday’s other Australia v South Korea contest, Brisbane Roar midfielder Devante Clut struck twice to secure a 3-3 draw against Suwon Bluewings in a Group G match at the Robina Stadium in Queensland.
The draw moves both teams on to four points. Beijing Guoan lead the Group G standings on nine points.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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