(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AFC
An electric encounter between Al Duhail SC and Pakhtakor FC ended with a late 3-2 win for the Qatar Stars League side in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2022 yesterday.
Pakhtakor had taken the lead twice at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, but Edmilson Junior's heroics in the second half saw Al Duhail secure an incredible comeback.
Hernan Crespo's men began the game on the front foot and threatened early on through Michael Olunga, who volleyed wide after Karim Boudiaf headed down Edmilson's cross into his path.
Khojimat Erkinov - the man who has an assist and a goal to his name already - almost managed to score from a corner 20 minutes into the game. Taking advantage of the windy conditions in the stadium, he looped in a corner kick that hit the crosspost on its way out, but it did force goalkeeper Salah Zakaria into action to shield his net just in case.
Just before the whistle went, Pakhtakor opened the scoring when Sardor Rashidov dribbled down the left and was met by Bassam Al Rawi who was swiftly brushed aside, before the Uzbek winger floated a cross that Oliver Sarkic rose highest to meet and expertly put past the keeper to make it 1-0.
Shortly after the break, Slavce Vojneski's men missed a chance to go further ahead when Erkinov broke forward down the right and eventually cut back towards Khojiakbar Alijonov who in turn teed up an onrushing Odiljon Khamrobekov, but the latter's shot was saved by Zakaria. Moments later, Rashidov also missed a one on one thanks to the keeper's reflexes.
Al Duhail eventually equalised after 66 minutes in exquisite fashion. Al Rawi played a defence splitting through ball from his own half which Edmilson gracefully controlled with one touch, before rounding Suyonov and tapping in to make it 1-1.
The game was end to end from then - Alijonov picked out an unmarked Sardor Sabirkhodjaev in lurking outside the area and sent a low cross his way, with the Pakhtakor man opting for power which paid off with 20 minutes left on the clock, bringing his side ahead again at 2-1.
Edmilson produced more magic to bring the Doha-based side level again almost immediately after Pakhtakor took the lead when he danced around a few players, before unleashing a shot from far out that caught Suyonov off guard.
The Belgian winger got his hat-trick in sensational fashion, when he received another of Al Rawi's long passes and cut inside from the left before picking Suyonov's far post to swerve the ball into it and ensure his side left the match with all three points.
The two sides will face each other once more on Monday at the same venue.
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