With two goals by Rahimi and Omer.. Al Ain defeats Ahal, Turkmenistan for the first time in Ashgabat
Al Ain achieved the first Asian defeat against its host Ahal,Turkmenistan, with a score of 2-1 at Ashgabat Stadium, in the match that was held tonight, in the conclusion of the Group stage of the 2023-2024 AFC Champions League. The Boss “Al Zaeem” achieved its fifth triumph in the competition.
Al Ain scored its two goals from two consecutive penalty kicks in the first half, which ended with the guests leading 2-0, scored by Soufiane Rahimi, 13’, and Omer Atzili, 32’,while Elman Tagayev scored Ahal’s only goal, 35’.
With this result, Al Ain emphasizes its qualification to the round of 16 and its lead to Group A with 15 points, while Ahal’s score freezes at 4 points. Al Fayhaa, KSA also progressed to the round of 16 with The Boss “Al Zaeem” by defeating their host, Pakhtakor, with a score of 4-1, securing the second place with 9 points, while Pakhtakor rolled down to third place with 7 points.
Al Ain 2
Goals: Soufiane Rahimi (13′) from a penalty kick, Omer Atzili (32′) from a penalty kick
Lineup: Khaled Issa, Saeed Juma, Mohamed Ali Shaker, Kouame Autonne, Khaled Ali Al Baloushi, Ahmed Barman, Mohamed Abbas, Matias Palacios, Omer Atzili, Soufiane Rahimi, Josna Loulendo.
Substitutions: Mansour Al Shamsi replaced Josna Loulendo (65′), Sultan Al Shamsi replaced Omer Atzili (83′), Khaled Al Baloushi replaced Mohamed Abbas (83′), Bandar Al Ahbabi replaced Soufiane Rahimi (90+4′).
Yellow cards: Josna Loulendo (65′).
Red cards: None.
Ahal, Turkmenistan 1
Goal: Elman Tagayev (35′).
Lineup: Shokhrat Soyunov, Hakmuhammet Bäşimow, Meylis Diniev, Gurban Annayev, Elman Tagayev, Rustem Ahalyev, Salim Umarow, Ýazgylyç Gurbanov, Alibek Abdurakhmanov, Atageldi Geldiýew and Dovran Hojamammedov.
Substitutions: Adylbek Ravshanow replaced Salim Umarow(46′), Gurbanmuhammet Esenow replaced Gurban Annayev(63′), Begench Mamiyew replaced Meylis Diniev (75′), Movlamberdi Goshanov replaced Alibek Abdurakhmanov(88′).
Yellow cards: Atageldi Geldiýew (90+7′).
Red cards: None.
Referees
The match was officiated by a South Korean refereeing team led by Kim Jong Hyuk as the yard referee assisted by his compatriots Park Kyung-Yong as the first assistant referee, Jang Jong-Bil as the second assistant referee and Shay Sang-Hyup as the fourth official, while Kim Hee-Jun was the VARreferee, the Uzbek Sidorov Jakhonir was the assistant VARreferee, and the Kuwaiti Saad Kamel served as the referee observer, and the Jordanian Mohammed Abdullah Manko was the match commissioner.
