The key facts

  • Tractor 2:2 Neftchi in the 4th round of the AFC Elite League, the match was played in Muscat
  • Goals: Perica (55) and Jovovic (90+4) for Neftchi; Strkalj (82) and Rigi (90+9) for Tractor
  • Neftchi sit 10th with 4 points; next match on 23 November against Al-Hilal

A victory lost in Muscat

Fergana's Neftchi played the match of the 4th round of the AFC Elite League group stage against Iran's Tractor on 2 November. The game at a neutral venue — Sultan Qaboos Stadium in Muscat — ended 2:2, Kun.uz reports.

Course of the match

Neftchi held the advantage, and in the 55th minute Stipe Perica opened the scoring. In the 61st minute Tractor were reduced to ten men: Farshad Faraji was sent off for a rough challenge. However, in the 82nd minute Tomislav Strkalj equalized. In stoppage time, Vladimir Jovovic's long-range strike seemed to give Neftchi the win (90+4), but the Iranians equalized again in the final seconds, in the 90+9th minute — Masoud Rigi scored. For Neftchi, Jan Sasse received a yellow card (78). The head coach of the Fergana side is Islombek Ismoilov, while Tractor were led by Javad Nekounam.

Standing in the group and the next match

After this draw, Neftchi sit 10th in the standings with 4 points. The team's next match will be at home on 23 November against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. Dropping two points in stoppage time is especially painful given the standings situation: a win would have lifted the Fergana club up the table, but instead it remains in the bottom half of the standings after four rounds.