Al Rayyan edge Pakhtakor for first win in AFC Champions League Elite

Doha: Hazem Shehata s surprising long range strike from over 40 yards earned Al Rayyan their first victory in the AFC Champions League Elite as they n...

Doha: Hazem Shehata’s surprising long-range strike from over 40 yards earned Al Rayyan their first victory in the AFC Champions League Elite as they narrowly defeated Pakhtakor 1-0 in Tashkent on Tuesday.

Shehata shocked both Pakhtakor and their enthusiastic fans at Stadion Majmuasi when his miss-hit punt forward in the 51st minute became the decisive factor, giving Al Rayyan a crucial win after enduring three straight defeats.

The Younes Ali-led side was fortunate to come away with maximum points in their away match, despite Pakhtakor’s dominance in most of the match. This victory lifted them five spots from the bottom to seventh place in the 12-team West Zone, keeping their hopes alive for the knockout stage, where eight teams will advance.

“The competition has truly begun for us now. This is a crucial victory that has revived our hopes. Every single point will count in the race for the knockout stage,” Al Rayyan coach Younes Ali said, acknowledging the stiff challenge posed by Pakhtakor.

“They played very well in the first half and created numerous chances. We improved in the second half and managed to score the winner. The pitch was particularly challenging for us, especially in the opening half,” the Al Rayyan coach added.