Action during the match between Al Rayyan and Al Taawoun.
Doha: Al Taawoun climbed to the top of Group C after edging Al Rayyan 2-1 in their AFC Champions League (ACL) Two clash at Wolves Park yesterday.
The win sees the Saudi Pro League side lead with four points, having drawn their opening tie against Oman Al Nahda, while Al Rayyan suffered their first defeat.
Al Taawoun looked the livelier of the two sides, with Marin Petkov firing wide from distance in the third minute before Mohammed Al Kuwaykibi saw his long-range effort blocked.
Younes El Bahraoui then blazed over the bar in the 16th minute but the hosts’ pressure eventually paid off three minutes later when Abdulrahman Hindi recycled a corner kick into the path of El Mahdioui who set up Mohammed Al Kuwaykib, who drilled his shot past Al Rayyan goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada.
Al Kuwaykibi threatened again in the 29th minute, firing wide from Ibrahim Mahnashi’s pass, but Al Rayyan drew level three minutes later when Wesley teed up Ahmed Al Ganehi to finish from the centre of the box following a swift counter-attack.
Parity lasted just six minutes as Al Kuwaykibi turned provider for El Bahraoui, who restored Al Taawoun’s lead with a long-range strike.
Al Taawoun continued to threaten after the break, with El Bahraoui’s close-range header from Al Ghamdi’s cross blocked in the 47th minute before Petkov forced Mahmoud Abunada into a low save eight minutes later.
Al Rayyan introduced Aleksandar Mitrovic and Gregore for Wesley and Al Ganehi just before the hour mark, but the hosts remained on the front foot, with the Qatari side coming agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 87th minute.
Andre Amaro rose highest to meet Otavios’s delivery of a set-piece situation, only for his headed attempt to smash against the bar as they finished empty-handed.
