Al Shorta 0-1 Al Ramtha

Ivorian striker Kesse Amangoua netted the only goal with 11 minutes remaining as Jordan’s Al Ramtha ended Al Shorta’s perfect AFC Cup record with a 1-0 win in Group D on Wednesday.

Both sides enjoyed chances in the opening 45 minutes at Prince Mohammad International Stadium in Zerqa City, but Al Ramtha began to assert themselves on the contest in the second half but had to wait until the closing stages for Amangoua to net the winner.

And with Al Ramtha returning to winning ways after losing 3-0 at home to Kuwait’s Al Qadsia three weeks ago, the Jordanian side joined Syria’s Al Shorta on six points at the midway point of the group stage.

Al Ramtha’s Mohammad Kassas came close to an opener 11 minutes before half-time but the midfielder saw his powerful header cleared off the line by Al Shorta defender Samer Aouad.

And Al Shorta’s best chance of the half arrived three minutes later as Saleh Diabat had to be on his toes to keep the scores level with a goalline clearance of his own after captain Qussai Habib had beaten goalkeeper Abdallah Alzubi.

Al Ramtha, though, were the better side in the second and with 11 minutes remaining of a tight contest the opening goal finally arrived as a quick counterattack led substitute Iyad Al Khateeb to cross for Amangoua to produce an empathic first-time finish.