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.
