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Al Shabab overcome Sabaye Qom on penalty shoot-out to qualify to AFC Champions League group stages

 

Dubai-based Al Shabab overcame their Iranian opponents Sabaye Qom beating them 5-3 on penalties in tonight’s encounter at the Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium, following a 1-1 draw after extra time in the AFC Champions League play-off to progress to the group stages of the continental competition.  The game, which was due to be broadcast live on Al Jazeera Sports, was not transmitted due to technical difficulties hampering the picture quality. 

The home side took the lead in only six minutes into the game and held on to their one- goal advantage for the majority of the match until Al Shabab fought back and snatched an equaliser through defender Esam Dhahi in the 89th minute. With the score tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the two sides headed into extra time to determine who would win the play-off qualifier to claim their place in the group. Al Shabab were missing several key players, including Walid Abbas and Uzbek Haydarov Azizbek, due to their midweek international duties, but the players dug deep to keep going for the period of extra time. However, after 120 minutes of a balanced football, the two teams could still not be separated as the score remained 1-1, so the tie had to be decided on penalty shoot-out. Al Shabab's Edgar converted the first spot kick for Al Shabab, and Sabaye Qom also scored their first penalty. However, with Al Shabab making it 2-1, the Iranian side missed their next conversion to give the advantage to the visitors. Al Shabab went on to complete a perfect set of penalties from Ciel, Nasser Masoud and Mohammed Marzooq to secure their qualification to the group stages of the AFC Champions League 2013. They now find themselves in Group “B” of the tournament, alongside with  Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, Qatari team Lekhwiya and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq. The group games will begin from 26th February.