Arbil: Substitute Amjed Radhi’s equaliser 14 minutes from time ensured defending AFC Cup champions Air Force Club and Iraqi rivals Al Zawraa shared a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the West Asia Zonal Semi-final on Monday.
In the first continental match to be played in Iraq since 2013, it was Air Force Club who shaded the opening 45 minutes at the Franso Hariri Stadium but Al Zawraa who came closest to breaking the deadlock, Amjed Kalaf shooting wide from 15 yards after being played through by Alaa Abdul Zahra a minute before the interval.
Al Zawraa did then take the lead on 66 minutes when substitute Alaa Mhawi fired home from the edge of the area after goalkeeper Fahad Talib punched into his path following a corner from the right. But the holders drew level 10 minutes later when Emad Mohsin’s header across goal was diverted into the back of the net by Radhi from just a few yards out as the tie ended in stalemate.
The teams will meet in the second leg in seven days’ time for the right to face Syria’s Al Wahda or Al Wehdat of Jordan in the West Asia Zonal Final in September.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com