AFC/TNN
Doha
Al Duhail ended their AFC Champions League 2023/24 campaign on a winning note as a pair of Michael Olunga headers earned the Qatar side a 2-0 win over FC Istiklol of Tajikistan in Group E at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium on Monday.
The Kenyan scored in the 47th and 90th minutes to give Al Duhail their first win of the group phase and move Christophe Galtier’s side onto four points from five games ahead of their final match against Persepolis FC in two weeks’ time.
The result sees Istiklol drop to the bottom of the standings and leaves the side from Turkmenistan with no chance of securing a top two finish. Al Duhail have four points from five games.
Only the winners of each group are certain to advance to the last 16 while the three best runners-up in West Asia will also progress to the next phase.
Ehson Panjshanbe saw his eighth minute goal-bound effort blocked by Olunga while three minutes later the Turkmenistan side had the ball in the net, only for Cedric Gogoua to be ruled offside after rolling his shot over the line following Alisher Dzhalilov’s free-kick.
While Al Duhail were monopolising possession, it was the visitors who created the better chances with Senin Sebai’s low shot in the 19th minute another Istiklol effort that was frustratingly off target.
Al Duhail thought they had been given a penalty when Olunga went down under a challenge by Gogoua only for referee Muhammad Nazmi Nasaruddin to overturn his decision to award the spot-kick upon reviewing the incident on the pitch side monitor.
The Qataris took the lead two minutes into the second half when Olunga met Isaac Lihadji’s deflected cross from the right with a header that goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov clawed to apparent safety, only for the goal to be given after VARconfirmed the ball had crossed the line.
Almoez Ali should have doubled his side’s lead 19 minutes from time but his header flew across the face of goal, while Olunga also had a view of the target less than minute later but fired over the bar.
Olunga met Ismaeel Mohammad’s cross from the right as the game went into the final minute to double his side’s advantage and confirm the three points for the home outfit despite an injury time red card for Ruben Semedo for fouling Shervoni Mabatshoev.
