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The AFC Champions League 2018 Matchday Fourin the West Zone produced some interesting results. Here is a recap of what happened in the four groups:
GROUP A:
Al Ahli Saudi FC 1-1 Al Gharafa (Zakaria 58' - Taremi 56')
Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia maintained their unbeaten start in Group A with a 1-1 win over Qatar's Al Gharafa on Tuesday.
Al Gharafa started the game well with Wesley Sneijder producing a chance forAbdelaziz Hatem but the home team grew into the game. But they were not able to force a goal in the first half. However, it was Al Gharafa who took the lead in the 56th minute when Mehdi Taremiconverted a cro s from Moayed Ha san.
But Al Ahli were level almost immediately.Saeed Al Muwallad Nick Wittgren Jersey 's cro s was headed in Moayed Zakaria in the 58th minute. The home team hit the post late on but were unable to fashion a winner. The result keeps Al Ahli top of the group with eight points while Al Gharafa are on five points.
Tractorsazi Tabriz 1-1 Al Jazira (Hatami 78' - Romarinho 44')
The second game in Group A also finished level as Tractorsazi Tabriz played out a 1-1 draw with AlJazira.
Tractorsazi Tabriz started the game very well and were denied an opening goal only by some brilliant goalkeeping by Al Jazira'sAli Khaseif. Against the run of play, the UAE-based side took the lead just before half-time.Brazilian star Romarinho latched on to an overhead pa s from Musallam Fayez and slotted home easily.
It looked like Al Jazira would keep the Iranians at bay and notch three important points but they shipped a goal in the 78th minute.Farzad Hatami headed in Ehsan Pahlevan's cro s to equalise and give them a share of the spoils.
Tractorsazi still prop the group up with just two points so far while Al Jazira have five to their name.
GROUP B:
Al Wahda 3-0 Miguel Rojas Jersey Zobahan (Tagliabe 46' Batna 57' Al-Akbari 65')
UAE's Al Wahda turned in an impre sive performance to record their first win in the tournament against Iran's Zobahan, courtesy a 3-0 result on Monday at home.
After three consecutive defeats, Al Wahda had to start well and they did just that though they had to wait till the end of the first half to score first.Sebastian Tagliabue swept home fromBalazs Dzsudzsak's intelligent free-kick.
Mourad Batna extended Al Wahda's lead with a curler from the edge of the box in the 57th minute beforeMohamed Al Akbari rounded the scoring with a calm finish from Batna's cro s.
Zobahan have just the six points from four games now but are still second while Al Wahda have three points.
Lokomotiv 1-2 Al Duhail (Rashidov 35' - El Arabi 90+1', 90+4')
Qatar's Al Duhail produced an inspirational late comeback to defeat Lokomotiv Tashkent 2-1 away and book their spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
Lokomotiv were the better side in the initial exchanges against the Brian Anderson Jersey Qatari side and took a deserved lead in the 35th minute.Sardor Rashidov finished offShukhrat Mukhammadiev's cutback to hand his team the lead.
It seemed as if the Uzbek team would hold on to winbut there would be a huge twist in injury time. The Qatari side were awarded a penalty in the 90th minuteafter Almoez Ali was felled in the box by Salim Mustafoev. You sef El Arabi converted the spotkick with aplomb. He would go on to secure a dramatic winner three minutes later as Al Duhail booked their spot in the Round of 16.
Lokomotiv are in third place with threepoints.
GROUP C:
Al Wasl 0-1 Persepolis (Kamyabinia 37')
UAE's Al Wasl were knocked out of the competition, following their 0-1 defeat at home to Iran's Persepolis on Sandy Alcantara Jersey Tuesday.
Al Wasl, playing to stay alive in the competition, had a couple of chances early on but could not capitalise while Persepolis grew into the game. In the 37th minute, Persepolis'Ho sein Mahini delivered an accurate cro s into the box which was finished off byKamal Kamyabinia.
AlWasl could not come up with an equaliser as Persepolis drew level with Al Sadd at the top of Group C.
Al Sadd 4-0 FC Nasaf (Xavi 3' Ha san 15' Bounedjah 43' Hamroun 71')
Qatar's Al Sadd returned to winningways in Group C after a 4-0 hammering of Uzbek side FC Nasaf on Tuesday.
Star midfielder Xavi Hernandez handed Al Sadd the lead in the third minute when he divertedBoualem Khoukhi's cro s and the team never looked back from there on.Abdelkarim Ha san then went on a marauding run from the halfway line and scored with a fierce strike in the 15th minute.
Just before half-time,Baghdad Bounedjah converted a splendid overhead kick to virtually seal the result.Jugurtha Hamroun then piled on the misery in the 71st minute for the Uzbek side by smashing a low shot in following a quick counter-attack.
Al Sadd are top of Group C now with nine points while Nasaf have six points are third.
GROUP D:
Al Rayyan 2-1 Al Hilal (Hamdallah 44' Tabata 66' -Al-Qahtani 90')
Al Rayyan clinched their first win in the competition with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal on Monday.
The Qatari side had to wait until the end of the first half to take the lead following a quiet start to the game. AbderazakHamdalla was brought down in thebox byAbdullah Corey Dickerson Jersey Al Zori and the Moroccan forward went on to convert the spotkick.
In the 66th minute, Rodrigo Tabata fired in a shot past Ali Al Habsi in Al Hilal's goal after a counter-attack where Hamdallah released him.
ThoughYa ser Al Qahtani scored a penalty to pull one back late on, Al Hilal could not get an equaliser.
Al Rayyan, with six points from four games, are tied at the top of the group with Esteghlal while Al Hilal are bottom with two points.
Esteghlal 1-1 Al Ain (Thiam 42' - Shiotani 78')
Iran's Esteghlal were held to a 1-1 draw at home by UAE's Al Ain on Monday.
The visitors had the best of the chances in the first half but were left to rue a foul on Farshid Esmaili inside the box in the JT Riddle Jersey 42nd minute. Mame Thiam converted the spotkick to hand Esteghlal the lead.
However, they were pegged back in the 78th minute whenTsukasa Shiotaniunleashed a powerful shot that left the Iranian team'sgoalkeeper helple s.
Al Ain are third in the group with four points now while Esteghlal are tied at the top with AlRayyan on six points.
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