3/4/2024–|Last updated: 3/4/202410:10 PM (Mecca time)
Moroccan Sofiane Rahimi scored a goal to lead Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates to a 1-0 victory over its guest, Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Monday.
The only goal of the match came in the 44th minute after Rahimi received a wonderful pass from Alejandro Romero (Kaku), so he was in a one-on-one position to dodge the goalkeeper and shoot into the goal.
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Al Ain of the Emirates takes a 1-0 lead over Al Nasr of Saudi Arabia in the 44th minute#Al-Ain_Al-Nasr #AFC_Champions_League
#Cass_channels pic.twitter.com/UOeHHiWZE3– Al Kass Channels (@AlkassTVSports) March 4, 2024
The referee canceled Rahimi’s goal in the 71st minute due to offside after he shot into the net from a one-on-one position.
Al-Nasr played with 10 players from the third minute of stoppage time after Aymeric Laporte was sent off for elbowing Al-Ain player Bandar Al-Ahbabi.
The two teams will meet next Monday in the return match in the capital, Riyadh.
Al-Nasr topped the fifth group in the group stage with 14 points from 6 matches, compared to 8 points for Persepolis of Iran, 7 points for Al-Duhail of Qatar, and 3 points for Esteghlal of Tajikia, then won in the round of 16 over its compatriot Al-Fayhaa with a score of 3-0 on aggregate of the two matches.
On the other hand, Al Ain topped the standings of the first group with 15 points from 6 matches, compared to 9 points for Al-Fayhaa, 7 points for Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan, and 4 points for Al-Turkman, and won in the round of 16 over Nasaf of Uzbekistan 2-1 on aggregate of the two matches.
Al Ain was crowned champion of the first edition of the tournament with its modern system, but it has not succeeded in reaching the semi-finals since winning runner-up in the 2016 edition.
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