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Al Shabab beat Neftchi to qualify to group stage in AFC Champions League

The UAE Al Shabab Football Team secured a berth in the group stage of the 2012 AFC Champions League after beating Neftchi of Uzbekistan with three straight goals in the match played this evening at Maktoum Bin Rashid Stadium in Dubai, in the preliminary round. The winners have qualified directly to play in the fourth group, which includes Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Al Gharafa from Qatar and Berozi from Iran.

Most of play in the first session was concentrated on the midfield zone as both teams failed to create scoring chances and continuous attacks, but the hosts were the better side in controlling the ball and making attempts that helped them to reach the visitors' goal several times.

Midfielder Essa Obaid put Al Shabab in the lead only six minutes into play off Mahmoud Ali's cross ball. Essa headed the ball first, but it rebounded off the goalkeeper for Brazilian player Kieza to send it back with a lovely shot, but it hit the cross bar for Essa to slam it home with a perfect header scoring the first goal.

Brazilian Kieza was almost to add the second goal in the 35th minute off a cross ball sent by Ciel but Neftch's goalie controlled the ball. Nurbaev of Neftchi sent a strong volley that hit the left upright in the 41st minute before the Iranian referee Turkey Mohsin ended the first half with a 1-0 win for Al Shabab.

The hosts continued their superiority after the interval and their goalkeeper Ismail Rabei could easily controlled the shy attacks made by the visitors while they were trying to come back to the match.

Essa Obaid was again on target when he capitalized on the ball that sent by Azizbek Haydarov and rebounded off the upright for Waleed Abbas to cross it into the six yard area before Essa headed it into the net in the 60th minute for the second goal.

Ali Jonov made it 3-0 in the last seconds when he scored into his own net in the 94th minute