ACL MD1 - Group C: Pakhtakor 2-2 Al Hilal

Yasser Al Qahtani’s 60th minute goal broke the deadlock at Pakhtakor Stadium before the hosts’ stand-out player Igor Sergeev levelled the scores 10 minutes later.

And then second half substitute Yousef Al Salem thought he had given Al Hilal all three points with his close-range finish on 84 minutes only for Khashimov’s late screamer to ensure the sides split the points.

“We played against a very strong team and the attacking players of Al Hilal are of a high level who capitalised on the little mistakes we made and we conceded goals,” said Pakhtakor coach Numon Khasanov.

“My team had confidence in the second half but if we had taken our chances in the first half we could have got another result.

“We played today for victory and I hope we can win when we face them in Saudi Arabia.”

A closely-fought first half resulted in few opportunities on goal, but just before the break the hosts did have two clear-cut chances to take the lead through striker Sergeev.

With five minutes of the half remaining, the 22-year-old Uzbekistan international sped past Saud Kariri to go one-on-one with goalkeeper Khalid Sharahili only to see his shot kept out by a stunning save from the custodian.

And just two minutes later Sergeev was through on goal again, this time choosing to round Sharahili, but was thwarted this time by a goal-saving sliding block from ferociously back-tracking Kariri.

After the restart Sergeev continued where he had left off and volleyed a sublime strike narrowly wide from just outside the penalty area.

But on the hour mark it was Al Hilal who took the lead through their captain Al Qahtani who stole in at the backpost to force home a deep Mohammad Al Shalhoub cross from the left.

Brazilian Carlos Eduardo then rattled the woodwork from 12 yards out after he was found inside the penalty by Salem Al Dawsari.

But on 70 minutes Sharahili gifted Pakhtakor a way back into the tie as his attempted clearance went only as far as the alert Sergeev who let fly from the edge of the area and found the bottom corner of the net.

And although the home side were energised by the equaliser, Al Hilal re-took the lead with six minutes remaining as Salman Al Faraj played in Eduardo who’s low cross was turned in by Al Salem.

But the Al Hilal celebrations were cut short on 89 minutes as Khashimov received the ball from Jamshid Iskanderov 25 yards out and let fly with a fizzing low shot that zipped past a wrong-footed Sharahili.

“It was a very even game with Pakhtakor having good chances in the first half and we played better in the second – so both deserved a point,” said Al Hilal coach Giorgos Donis.

“I’m now thinking about our game against Al Ittihad on Saturday. After that game we will focus on the return meeting with Pakhtakor.”