Al Mutwa double keeps Qadisiya in the hunt

AFCL - Bader Al Mutwa scored twice as Al Qadisiya defeated a depleted Foolad 2-0 to keep the Kuwaiti side's hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase alive.

Al Qadisiya moved to the top of Group A in the provisional standings with the win and Kuwait international Al Mutwa was his club's hero once again.

The 21-year-old striker gave the hosts the perfect start when he stabbed home from close range following a goalmouth scramble initiated by Lucio’s lofted ball into the penalty area.

The Kuwaitis, though, had to wait until the third minute of injury time before wrapping up the three points when Al Mutwa converted from the penalty spot after Foolad keeper Hassan Hori had hauled him down.

But the win disguised the fact that Foolad - despite missing Iranian internationals Ebrahim Mirzapour and Hossein Kaebi, as well as recently departed Iraqi striker Emad Mohammad - dominated the possession but were unable to turn that superiority into clear-cut chances or goals.

Instead, it was Al Qadisiya who had the better of the opportunities and the home side could have won by a greater margin.

With the game on the verge of the half-time break Khalaf Salama should have doubled his side's lead when he was left one-on-one with Hori, only for the Kuwaiti to fire straight at the custodian.

Midway through the second half Al Mutwa was put through on goal but Hori managed to keep his team in the contest.

As time ran out and as Foolad sought the equaliser, Al Qadisiya continued to exploit the visitors' poor defending with Al Mutwa twice failing to convert despite being put in on the keeper in the final minutes.

But he made amends in injury time when Hori fouled him and Al Mutwa scored from the spot, striking the ball to the keeper's right to take his tally in this year's AFC Champions League to five and avenge the 6-0 loss to the Iranians on Matchday One.