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Al Shabab keep continental challenge alive with 3-1 win over Lekhwiya

Al Shabab recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over Lekhwiya of Qatar at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday night, coming back from a goal down to defeat the team that had been top of Group B in the AFC Champions League prior to kick-off. The result gives Al Shabab 6 points in the group and keeps their chances of qualifying to the final 16 of the competition alive, but their standing in the group at the end of Match Day 5 will be determined pending the result of Al Ettifaq v Pakhtakor tonight.

Marcos Paqueta followed the lead set by Al Nasr’s Walter Zenga yesterday, sending out an entirely Emirati starting eleven and giving his big guns a rest in the midst of a hectic schedule of games. Lekhwiya started the stronger of the two sides, flashing an opportunity just wide as early as the third minute, but after the visitors’ initial pressure Al Shabab got to grips with the game as Essa Obaid and Rashed Hassan made inroads in the box. In the 19th minute Lekhwiya were awarded a dangerous free kick right on the edge of the area, and Al Shabab goalkeeper Ismail Rabee had to make a fingertip save to turn Nam Tae Hee’s set piece over. In the 36th minute Al Shabab made a promising move forward as Rashed Hassan burst down the centre of the field before passing to Nasser Masood, who then experienced a communication error with teammate Manei Mohamed as he sent a ball to the right but the right-sided midfielder halted his run and the chance was lost. Lekhwiya immediately broke away up the pitch to go a goal up as Youssef Msakni finished off a give-and-go on the edge of the area with a fine left-footed shot to put the Qatari side 1-0 ahead in the 37th minute. Lekhwiya almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half time as Ismail Mohamed caught his shot sweetly but saw it whistle just wide of the post.

Paqueta’s half-time team talk clearly had the desired effect as Al Shabab were back on level terms right from the restart. A long ball from the kick-off was collected by Essa Obaid, who ghosted between the two Lekhwiya centre-backs to slot a cool right-footed finish home across goal and make it 1-1 in the 46th minute. Seconds later the visitors tried to hit back as the bustling Nam Tae Hee’s deflected shot cannoned back out off the post, and in the 51st minute Al Shabab fashioned another good chance of their own as Manei Mohamed headed just over from Rashed Hassan’s cross. Three minutes later Lekhwiya’s Sebastian Suria found himself through on goal and tried to place his shot but it didn’t dip soon enough and flew over the crossbar. With Al Shabab sensing that the game was there for the taking, Brazilian striker Ciel entered the fray in place of Ali Mahmoud in the 65th minute and just two minutes later the hosts almost took the lead in spectacular style. Emirati midfielder Ibrahim Abdulla unleashed an absolute rocket of a shot from all of 35 yards, clattering the crossbar with his powerful effort. Two more First Team regulars were brought on by Paqueta as the Brazilian coach introduced striker Edgar and UAE National Team left-back Walid Abbas in place of Essa Obaid and Abdulla Darwish, in a clear attempt to seize the game. It was a matter of minutes before one of the substitutes got on the scoresheet to fire Al Shabab into a 2-1 lead, as Ciel inelegantly but effectively got the ball across the line. The Brazilian scored a classic poacher’s goal, finding himself in the right place at the right time to turn Rashed Hassan’s cross in after Lekhwiya’s defense and goalkeeper failed to clear and make it 2-1 in the 76th minute. Six minutes later Al Shabab could have put the result beyond doubt as Rashed Hassan made fine progress down the left, but the winger went for glory by himself instead of setting up the onrushing Edgar in the area, and sent his effort into the side netting. In the 83rd minute Lekhwiya’s night got worse as they were reduced to ten men when Sebastian Suria was shown a straight red card for raising a hand to Al Shabab’s Ibrahim Abdulla. The visitors didn’t go down without a fight, however, as Al Shabab suffered a late scare when Nam Tae Hee’s stunning free kick crashed into the crossbar two minutes from time, but the home side put the tie beyond doubt when Edgar finished off a flowing move between Ciel and Nasser Masood to sweep home a third goal and make it 3-1 in injury time.