Al Wahda pip Al Shorta at ACL to remain unbeaten; Al Hilal win

Paul Jose M’Poku struck at the death as Al Wahda came away from Erbil with a valuable 1-0 win over Al Shorta on Matchday Two of the 2020 AFC Champions League Group A on Monday.

Both sides came into the game with a point to their name each.

Al Shorta were eyeing their first-ever win in the AFC Champions League, while Al Wahda aimed to end a four-game winless run.

An evenly-matched first half saw chances galore at both ends, but poor finishing and heroic goalkeeping combined to keep the score level at the break.

Al Shorta stepped up their game after the restart and looked to get an opener, propelled by a large home crowd, despite playing 250 kilometres north in Erbil.

The Iraqis nearly got a late winner when Junior Mapuku controlled and laid the ball off to Calderon who took it first time, but his strike missed the target with five minutes to go. As the large crowd at Franso Hariri Stadium thought there would be no goals on the night, M’Poku popped up and delivered a late winner for the visitors.

Veteran Sebastian Tagliabue collected the ball inside the box following a poor defensive clearance and back-heeled it for Lee Myung-joo who crossed for M’Poku and the Congolese directed his header into the back of the net off the post to win it for Al Wahda.

The result means Al Wahda remain unbeaten, reaching four points from two games ahead of their Matchday Three clash with Esteghlal FC in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, Al Shorta freeze at one point and will travel to Jeddah to face Al Ahli Saudi FC on March 2.

In another match, a brace from Bafetimbi Gomis helped Al Hilal come from behind to defeat Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 2-1 at the Rashid Stadium in Group B on Monday.

The reigning champions had started their campaign with a home win against Shahr Khodro FC, while Shabab Al Ahli lost their opening game in Tashkent to Pakhtakor.

Halfway through a largely one-sided opening period, it was Shabab Al Ahli who opened the scoring against the run of play.