Qatar giants Al Duhail eye win against Pakhtakor

In-form Al Duhail of Qatar can be searching for their third successive win once they tackle Uzbek giants Pakhtakhor in a Group D conflict of the AFC Champions League on Monday.
Al Duhail bounced again from their opening day defeat to Al Taawoun, registering two wins on the trot to place themselves degree on the high on six factors with head-to-head inserting them behind the Saudi aspect.
Regardless of the relative benefit, coach Hernan Crespo’s males can be all too accustomed to the risks of their present state of affairs, having exited the 2020 group stage in an equivalent vogue, ending behind Al Taawoun in Group C on head-to-head after either side ended the group stage marketing campaign on 9 factors.
“I imagine the sport in opposition to Pakhtakor can be very troublesome simply because it occurred in opposition to them within the earlier recreation, however we’re actually pursuing a repeat of the win,” Crespo mentioned throughout a press convention yesterday.
“We take care of each recreation as its personal huge problem for us. We ready properly for this recreation regardless of the congested schedule and intense stress. We’re at all times focusing on wins.”
Key for Crespo has been Brazilian-born Belgian winger Edmilson who has bagged three of Al Duhail’s 4 objectives within the marketing campaign up to now, with solely final 12 months’s high scorer Michael Olunga becoming a member of him on the Qatari aspect’s scoresheet with one objective, however the Argentine legend insists there may be extra to his aspect than their talisman.
“Edmilson is a crucial participant in our workforce and he helped so much in reaching the victory final time, however I don’t assume we’re a one-man-team. We play as a bunch and all gamers are prepared to present their finest and make the distinction.
Al Duhai’s most up-to-date win means Pakhtakor are but to get a victory in opposition to the Qatari workforce in three makes an attempt, having misplaced to the aspect then named Lekhwiya 3-1 and drew 2-2 within the 2013 group stage.
Pakhtakor FC head coach Slavce Vojneski is keen to get one again in opposition to Al Duhail when the 2 sides lock horns for the second time in Group D right now.
The Uzbek aspect had come out second finest on Thursday regardless of taking the lead twice. Montenegrin attacker Oliver Sarki put Pakhtakor within the lead simply earlier than the break and Sardor Sabirkhodjaev restored their benefit within the 69th minute after Edmilson had introduced the sport degree, however the Belgian winger had the final phrase, placing twice extra within the final 19 minutes to present Al Duhail the victory.
“There are nonetheless three extra video games to play within the group and our probabilities of reaching the subsequent spherical are nonetheless there,” Vojnoski mentioned. “I instructed the gamers now we have to struggle, to present our greatest to maintain our hopes alive. We respect Al Duhail, they carried out very properly in opposition to us final time and so they have fine quality gamers. Our goal is to place in efficiency and make up for our final defeat in opposition to them.”
A second defeat from three video games leaves Pakhtakor in determined want for factors right now ought to they keep away from a repeat of final 12 months’s group stage exit, and the North Macedonian coach believes they’ve what it takes to get the win.
“We ready very properly for this recreation, studied the opponents on many ranges to search out methods to cease them and perceive their weaknesses. I hope we are able to get a optimistic end result to maintain our hopes of qualification intact.”