Matchday five action in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup saw two teams eliminated from Group C while Muharraq and Al Wehdat continue to battle for the group honours. Let's take a closer look at the action that unfolded on Monday.
GROUP C:
NEJMEH 1-1 AL WEHDAT [Al Husein 88' - Wasswa (OG) 84']
Jordanian side Al Wehdat lost their lead atop Group C after a late goal from Abdelrazak Al Husein condemned them to a 1-1 draw against Nejmeh in Saida on Monday. But the draw was not enough for Nejmeh who see themselves out of the reckoning from qualification for the playoffs from the group.
After the first half and most of the second half failed to bring about a goal, the game exploded into life the final six minutes. Al Wehdat had dominated the game without finding a breakthrough but they were given a slice of luck in the 84th minute. Laith Al Bashtawi's low cross into the box from the byline was deflected past his own keeper by Hassan Wasswa and it seemed like Al Wehdat would remain atop the group. But Nejmeh struck back four minutes later through Al Husein who saw a shot from the edge of the area on the left squirm past a host of defenders and nestle in the back of the net.
The result meant that Al Wehdat drop down to second in the group with nine points from five games while Nejmeh, who have only four points, are eliminated.
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AL MUHARRAQ 1-0 SAHAM [Fuakuputu 37']
Bahrain's Al Muharraq stormed to the top of the table in Group C with a crucial 1-0 win over Saham SC on Monday in Riffa. All they needed was a winner in the first half from Doris Fuakuputu.
Al Muharraq were on the front foot from the offset and were at times commanding in the first half. Deservedly, they got the go-ahead goal in the 37th minute through Fuakuputu who guided Ismail Abdullatif's impeccable cross from the left wing in to the far corner. That goal was enough for the Bahrainian side who held on comfortably to their lead for the rest of the game.
With one game to go, the result leaved Al Muharraq on 10 points, one above Al Wehdat while Saham have now crashed out of the group. Importantly, the confirmed spot in the zonal semifinals will be up for grabs when Al Muharraq take on Al Wehdat in the final round.