Sharjah started their AFC Champions League 2 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Tajikistan’s Istiklol on Tuesday evening.
The match was decided by a well-placed goal from Tunisian substitute M. Ben Alarbi in the 72nd minute, securing a crucial away win for Sharjah in their opening group-stage match.
Both teams showed attacking intent from the start, creating several opportunities in the first half, but neither could find a breakthrough.
As the game approached halftime, Istiklol came close to scoring, only to be denied by a superb save from Sharjah’s goalkeeper Khaled Tawhid in the 45th minute, keeping the match goalless.
In the second half, Sharjah began to dominate, ramping up the pressure on Istiklol's defense.
In the 53rd minute, Luan Pereira’s powerful header was brilliantly saved by Istiklol’s goalkeeper Mukhriddin Khasanov, who continued his outstanding performance throughout the match.
Khasanov also made key saves from Ousmane Camara and Caio Lucas in the 58th and 64th minutes to keep his team in the game.
However, Sharjah’s persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when M. Ben Alarbi, coming off the bench, chipped a clever shot over Khasanov, breaking the deadlock and giving Sharjah the lead.
It was a decisive moment in the game, as Istiklol struggled to mount a comeback.
Despite Istiklol’s efforts to find a late equalizer, Sharjah's defense held firm, ensuring the match ended 1-0 in their favor.
This important win gives Sharjah three valuable points as they look to build momentum in the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2.
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