Dhaka, April 25 (BDNEWS) – Al Wihdat of Jordan booked their quarterfinal berths in the AFC Cup from group-C with an aggregate 9-1 as the visitors handed a 2-1 defeat to Mohammedan Sporting Club in the return-leg match at Bangabandhu National Stadium Tuesday.
Forwards Mohmoud Shelbaieh, who had hattrick at home, struck twice for the winners while Nwachukwu Paul converted the lone goal for the losers.
Mohammedans coach Shafiqul Islam Manik at a post-match briefing expressed his happiness with the results and said their ability earned them the expected win. He, however, said that the opponents did not take any risk in the game as they were ahead 7-0 goals in the first match at Amman.
Al Wihdat coach Adel Yusuf said that they also could not take any risk and played normally. He admitted that the Mohammedans played better than the first match at Amman.
Al Wihdat, who overwhelmed the Mohammedans by 7-0 at home, enjoyed the superior ball possession in the game and launched most of the attacks from two wings.
The Mohammedans, on other hand, were looked disorganised with losing the midfield, comprised of veteran Matiur Munna, Arman Azizi, Chibuike Ikechukwe Divine and Sentu.
Al Wihdat came close to score early in the match, but their forwards floated the ball over crosspiece from close-range.
In the 45th minute the Mohammedans could have taken a first-half lead, but the forwards could not utilize the opportunity from a goalmouth mele.
After the barren first half, Mohmoud Shelbaieh put Al Wihdat ahead in the 61st minute dodging past the Mohammedans defenders capitalizing an Issa Alsapah cross from the right.
Two minutes later Shelbaieh doubled the Al Wihdat margin with a header following a flag kick by Issa.
Paul reduced the Mohammedans margin six minutes from time with converting a penalty kick.
Al Wihdat fellow defender brought down Mohammedans Divine inside the danger zone and Uzbekistan referee Rustam Saidov did not hesitate to award a penalty for the home side.
BDNEWS/2004 hrs
