Mash'al compound Al Hilal's misery

AFC Champions League April 26 Saudi giants Al Hilal slumped to a second damaging defeat in succession with a 2-1 loss to AFC Champions League debutants Mash'al of Uzbekistan. Rivals Al Shabab had beaten the two-time Asian club champions in their domestic league play-off at the weekend and they took to the field in Karshi shorn of a number of their national team stars. Two goals to the good, Mash'al could even afford to lose Jahongir Jiyamuradov and Komoliddin Kenjayev, both red carded for serious foul play in the 82nd and 86th minutes respectively, and still clinch an important win to leave them second in Group B. Al Hilal were severely depleted at kick-off with Mohammad Al Deayea, Abdulaziz Khathran, Omar Al Ghamdi, Khaled Aziz, Nawaf Al Temyat, Mohammed Al Shlhoub, Sami Al Jaber, Yasser Al Qahtani and Mohammed Al Anbar away on international duty. Sensing vulnerability and chastened by a 5-0 reverse the last time the teams met a fortnight ago, the Uzbeks raced out of the blocks and could have taken an early lead. Al Deayea's replacement between the posts, Fahad Al Shammari, was forced into a double save, firstly using his leg to deflect a shot from Shuhratbek Mirholdirshaev wide and then tipping Rashidjon Gofurov s close-range effort over. Soon after, Jasur Hasanov twisted and turned on the edge of the area before scuffing his shot wide. It was the last noteworthy chance until near the end of the first half as the heat took its toll and the match tempo fell away. But just before half-time, the returning Rustam Kadirov wasted a good opportunity by heading into Al Shammari's hands when well placed. The interval seemed to rejuvenate the hosts and they started the second half as they had the first and five minutes after the restart, they took the lead. Gofurov's cross from the right flank reached Mirholdirshaev, who was denied by Al Shammari, but the loose ball was pounced on in the six-yard box by Botir Karaev for his first goal in this season's competition. Clearly missing key individuals, the Riyadh club could not get a foothold and rarely troubled their opponents. A second goal for Mash'al was on the cards and it duly came 10 minutes from time when a Hasanov's swinging cross was met with a volley from Zafar Kholmurodov and the ball flew past Al Shammari. With the game as good as won, Mash'al did their best to lose it with the pair of reckless dismissals, which seemed to make the rest of the team nervous. Al Hilal raised their game for a late charge and when Mirholdirshaev handled the ball in the area in injury time, Abdullah Jumaan converted to cut the deficit. But time ran out for an equaliser and Mash'al held on.