Edmilson’s hat-trick helps Duhail’s comeback win against Pakhtakor

AFC.com Buraidah 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 AF...

AFC.comBuraidahAn 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 a on Thursday.Pakhtakor had taken the lead twice at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, but Edmilson Juinor’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 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.Al Sadd vs Al WehdatDammam: Al Sadd SC defender Pedro Miguel insists he and his teammate Abdelkarim Hassan are determined to come back stronger when their side face Jordan’s Al Wehdat on Matchday Three of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Group E on Friday.The two full-backs were sent-off in Al Sadd’s opening game against FC Nasaf, a game their team still managed to walk out with a draw despite playing with nine men for nearly half an hour. Subsequently, Pedro and Hassan were suspended for the 2-1 defeat against Al Faisaly but are now in line to start in what could prove to be a do-or-die encounter against Al Wehdat.“It will be a difficult game tomorrow,” said Miguel.“Everybody knows we didn’t start so well but tomorrow is a chance to show everyone our real quality. We know that we need the win, so we need to focus on getting the three points. The staff and the players are focused as it will be like a final for us because we lost many points and we need to recover.”It was a night to forget for Miguel. With Hassan already dismissed, the Portuguese-born Qatari international headed the ball into his own net at the half-hour mark as he attempted to clear a corner. Then 18 minutes into the second half, Miguel landed himself in hot water again, receiving his marching orders for a second bookable offence as he stopped Oybek Bozorov breaking free on the counter.“It was a decision of the referee so I can’t talk about it. I don’t think we lacked focus in that game, and I believe I was mentally prepared, so that was not the reason for the red card. We are motivated for the next game and we want to help the team. Abdelkarim and I are coming back stronger to help the team qualify to the next stage and we are approaching this game as a final.”Currently occupying third and fourth places respectively and yet to get their first win, both teams know Friday’s game will be vital if they are to catch up with group leaders Nasaf and Al Faisaly and avoid a repeat of their 2021 destiny.