Doha, Qatar: AGMK FC booked their place in the AFC Champions League 2023/24 group stage with a narrow 1-0 win over Qatar’s Al Arabi thanks to a Ruben Sanchez goal at Al Thumama Stadium yesterday.
The Uzbek side return to the competition for the second time in their history after 2021.
The first chance of the game fell Al Arabi’s away as Omar Al Soma lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out but his shot could not drop soon enough, ending up slightly over the crossbar.
At the other end, Mirjamol Kosimov curled a corner towards the far post where defender Sardor Rakhmanov escaped marking and met it with a header that ended up hitting the outside of the netting.
Youngster Simo Keddari came within a whisker of opening the scoring for the home side in the 22nd minute as he climbed and guided a header towards goal following a set-piece sent into the box, but his attempt narrowly missed the target.
Uzbek goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev was put to the test at the hour mark as Tunisian forward Youssef Msakni fired an effort from outside the box, but the AGMK goalkeeper made a flying save to tip it behind.
AGMK finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go on the clock as Abdulla Abdullaev advanced down the left and delivered a low cross towards Sanchez who took it first time on the half volley, with his strike finding the back of the net via the crossbar.
Head coach Mirdjalal Kosimov’s side will learn their opponents in Thursday’s group stage draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
