Al Hasa: The scenes of celebration at the final whistle showed just what it meant to players and fans alike as Al Fateh secured their place in the Group Stage of the AFC Champions League for only the second time in the club’s history.
A 1-0 win over Uzbekistan’s FC Nasaf takes Fethi Jebel and his team into the next phase of the competition, where they will take on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Esteghlal Khuzestan, Al Jazira from the United Arab Emirates and Lekhwiya of Qatar in a group in which the Saudis will be confident of being competitive.
The club from Al Hasa, who were surprise winners of the Saudi league title back in 2013, have made a habit of upsetting the form book, and they did it again against a Nasaf side fancied by some to take the ticket for the next round.
That, though, was not accounting for Al Fateh’s determination to join compatriots Al Ahli, Al Hilal and Al Taawoun in the Group Stage, or to allow for the talent within the squad, despite their struggles domestically.
The pace of Tawfiq Buhimed down the left flank – with Hamed Al Hamed drifting out to assist on a regular basis from his position behind the striker – caused Nasaf problems throughout, while Nathan Junior provided Al Fateh with a mobile outlet in attack.
While Al Fateh had Portuguese midfielder Ukra to thank for the winning goal – a beautifully struck, curling free-kick from just over 20 yards out that the Nasaf defence was unable to stop in first half injury time – the home side were sharper in almost every aspect of the game.
Al Fateh dominated possession, having the ball for 54.7 percent of the game, and when Nasaf did take control they regularly floundered on the home side’s well organised defense, which gave up few clear-cut chances.
Nasaf coach Ruzikul Berdiev cut a beleaguered figure on the sidelines at the end as his club’s hopes of playing in the AFC Champions League Group Stage disappeared for another year, with a lack of match sharpness no doubt partly to blame for the Uzbek side, who have yet to start their domestic season.
There were no such problems, however, for Al Fateh, who looked sharp and focused with a performance that belied the issues they are currently experiencing domestically.
While Jebel’s team might be languishing in the Saudi Pro League’s relegation zone , Al Fateh will be confident of springing a few more surprises when the AFC Champions League Group Stage begins later this month.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com