emirates7 - Reigning continental champions Al Ain kept their hopes of reaching the AFC Champions League Elite knockout rounds alive with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Pakhtakor in Tashkent. Despite being reduced to 10 men for the final 35 minutes, Leonardo Jardim’s squad managed to secure a crucial point.
Otabek Jurakuziyev gave Pakhtakor an early lead with a sixth-minute goal, but Soufiane Rahimi equalized for Al Ain in the 49th minute. However, Yahia Nader's red card for a dangerous tackle in the 55th minute left the team short-handed.
The result pushes Al Ain to two points, trailing eighth-placed Esteghlal by three in the West League standings with two matches left. Pakhtakor, meanwhile, remain one point ahead of the UAE side.
Otabek Jurakuziyev gave Pakhtakor an early lead with a sixth-minute goal, but Soufiane Rahimi equalized for Al Ain in the 49th minute. However, Yahia Nader's red card for a dangerous tackle in the 55th minute left the team short-handed.
The result pushes Al Ain to two points, trailing eighth-placed Esteghlal by three in the West League standings with two matches left. Pakhtakor, meanwhile, remain one point ahead of the UAE side.