Soccer-Al-Fayha Complete Saudi Sweep As Persepolis Exit Asian Champions League – News18

Al-Fayha ensured a full home of Saudi Pro League sides within the final 16 of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday as a 4-1 win over Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor noticed Vuk Rasovic’s group pip Persepolis from Iran to a berth within the knockout rounds.

Junior Fashion Sakala scored twice to assist safe Al-Fayha’s victory over Maksim Shatkikh’s facet in Tashkent, which coupled with Persepolis’ 2-1 loss in Tehran in opposition to Qatar’s Al-Duhail took Al-Fayha by means of as one of many three greatest runners-up.

Al-Fayha completed second in Group A behind Al-Ain, who received 2-1 in opposition to Turkmenistan’s Ahal, however their 9 factors noticed them take the ultimate runners-up berth within the final 16 after Navbahor and Sepahan had already claimed the primary two slots.

Only the winners of the ten teams throughout the western and jap halves of the continent had been assured to progress to the knockout rounds, with the three runners-up with the perfect data from both sides of the continent additionally going by means of.

Persepolis, crushed finalists in 2018 and 2020, wanted a win over already-eradicated Al-Duhail at a packed Azadi Stadium to progress and took a seventh-minute lead by means of Shahab Zahedi.

But Mohammed Muntari levelled two minutes later and, after Persepolis’ Giorgi Gvelesiani hit the bar with an 81st-minute penalty, Al-Duhail stole the three factors when Michael Olunga scored on the break seven minutes from time.

The loss left Persepolis in second place in Group E and on eight factors, one fewer than Al-Fayha.

Riyadh’s Al-Nassr had already confirmed themselves as Group E winners forward of Tuesday’s video games and a facet lacking Cristiano Ronaldo was held to a 1-1 draw by Tajikistan’s Istiklol in Dushanbe.

Alisher Dzhalilov gave the house facet the lead within the thirty second minute from distance however Abdulrahman Ghareeb levelled 5 minutes into the second half as Al-Nassr completed the group part unbeaten.

Fellow Saudis Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal had already confirmed their locations within the subsequent spherical by profitable Groups C and D respectively whereas Uzbekistan’s Nasaf superior on Monday as Group B winners.

The draw for the spherical of 16 shall be held in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 28 and the primary legs of the knockout part shall be performed from Feb. 12-14 with the return fixtures held from Feb. 19-21.

The quarter-finals shall be performed in March, with the semi-finals in April and the 2 legged last on May 11 and 18.

(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)