FC Ravshan 1-3 Al Shorta

Khujand: Syrian champions Al Shorta advanced to the last 16 of the AFC Cup after recording a 3-1 win over Tajikistan counterparts FC Ravshan in Group D on Tuesday.

First-half goals from Mohammed Al Wakid and Ahmad Kallasi set Al Shorta on their way before Davronjon Tukhtasunov pulled a goal back for Ravshan just before half-time at 20 Years of Independence Tajikistan Stadium.

But Ammar Zakour restored Al Shorta’s two goal advantage just before the hour mark as Mohamad Al Shaded’s side claimed a fourth win of the campaign.

And with Kuwait’s Al Qadsia sharing a 2-2 draw with Jordan’s Al Ramtha to win Group D, Al Shorta claimed second place after beginning the final round of fixtures level on points with the Jordanian side.

 “We are happy with the result and with the performance the team showed tonight,” said Al Shorta assistant coach Radwan Alabrach.

“Ravshan tried to collect a point against us as they were playing at their home stadium and they wanted it, but we showed a good level of football and character during the game.

“And when Ravshan attacked in the second half we scored a very important third goal.”

With Al Shorta needing to at least match Al Ramtha’s result against Al Qadsia, striker Al Wakid set the visitors on their way after 14 minutes before defender Kallasi doubled their advantage midway through the first half.

Tukhtasunov, though, responded for the home side four minutes before half-time with Ravshan’s second goal of the tournament.

But two minutes before the hour mark, Zakour struck to secure all three points for Al Shorta and hand Ravshan a sixth defeat of their maiden AFC Cup campaign.

“We have played the last match in this AFC Cup campaign and unfortunately we couldn`t achieve any points in the group stage as our opponents were better and stronger than us,” said Ravshan coach Gayratali Mirahmadov.

“We tried to make chances and did what we could. We scored a goal in the last minutes of the first half and we wanted to equalise in the second half, but Al Shorta scored a third goal quickly.

“I think all six games in the competition have given us a lot of experience. We know how we are behind other clubs in our continent, but my players gave their best in every game.”