The key facts

  • Nasaf beat Al-Kuwait 3:2 after a comeback from 0:2
  • Goals: Abdikholikov (57, 67), Rustamov (81)
  • Nasaf, with 4 points, is third in Group A; Al-Kuwait, with 6 points, is second

A comeback in Kuwait

In matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League Two group stage (a tournament second in status only to the elite AFC Champions League), Nasaf played away against Kuwait's Al-Kuwait on 4 November at Jaber Al-Mubarak Stadium. The Group A match ended in a 3:2 victory for the Uzbek club, Kun.uz reports.

Course of the match

The first half belonged to the hosts: Yassin Henissi opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and in the 34th Muhammad Furaykh doubled the lead. After the break Nasaf seized the initiative: Bobir Abdikholikov first reduced the deficit in the 57th minute, then equalized in the 67th, and in the 81st Oybek Rustamov put the visitors ahead — 3:2. The match referee was Rasul Mammedov of Turkmenistan; for Nasaf, Sardorbek Bakhromov and Murodbek Rakhmatov were booked.

Group standings and what's next

Thanks to this win, Nasaf earned 4 points and sits third in Group A; Al-Kuwait, with 6 points, is second. The clubs finishing first and second in the group advance to the playoffs, so to stay in the tournament the Karshi side must overtake the team in second place. Nasaf's next match is on 25 November at home against Bahrain's Al-Hidd — a game against a direct rival in the table could significantly affect the situation in the group.