Doha: Defending champions Air Force Club will face off against Iraqi rivals Al Zawraa in the second-leg of the 2017 AFC Cup West Zonal Semi-final on Monday with a spot in the Zonal Final on offer to the winner.
The pair played out a 1-1 first-leg draw in Arbil last week in front of more than 11,000 spectators in what was the first continental match to be played in Iraq since 2013. They will next head to Doha’s Grand Hamad Stadium for the decisive return fixture.
Al Zawraa
There was little to separate the two sides in the first leg, although Al Zawraa had the slight upper hand in the opening 45 minutes before taking the lead through substitute Alaa Mhawi 20 minutes after the restart.
And although another substitute, Amjed Radhi, leveled 10 minutes later, Al Zawraa were technically the visiting team so take what could be a crucial away goal to Doha for the second leg.
Mhawi came off the bench to score the all-important goal but, despite enduring a quiet first leg, Iraq international Mohanad Abdulraheem remains their main threat going forward.
Expect Hussein Ali and Nadim Sabag to be the main creators for the four-goal frontman and, if the three click on the day, it could spell trouble for the holders.
Air Force Club
Radhi’s first-leg equaliser ensured that Air Force Club and Monday’s opponents remain the only unbeaten teams in the West Zone in the current AFC Cup campaign.
But the defending champions have found goals hard to come by on the continent and, unlike last year when a free-flowing side scored 15 in the group stage, the Baghdad-based team have racked up just a goal a game to date.
Of their seven goals, Radhi has bagged three and the forward, who has scored at a rate of one in every three attempts, could prove to be the biggest danger to the Al Zawraa backline.
Elsewhere, the holders will feel it’s time for Hammadi Ahmed to come good as the prolific marksman, who was the tournament’s top scorer with 16 goals last year, has only found the back of the net once this time round.
Minimal time, maximum impact
Suspensions: None
Al Zawraa v Air Force Club
Venue: Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: May 29 21:30 UTC+3
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com