Two headed goals either side of the half-time break laid the foundation for an emphatic 5-1 victory for Nasaf Qarshi over Al Faisaly as the Uzbek side booked their place in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Igor Golban powered in a header from Slavko Lukic’s corner kick to put Nasaf in front just 12 minutes into the game. The Russian defender’s strike was the difference at the break.
The hosts raced out of the blocks after the restart, and cemented their victory with a three-minute double-salvo. First, it was Bobir Abdixolov doubling Nasaf’s with another header, four minutes into the second half. Then, Azizjon Ganiev made it 3-0 with a well-placed effort from the edge of the area.
Al Faisaly’s capitulation continued with defender Oday Zahran conceding a penalty at the hour mark. Nasaf skipper Dragan Ceran converted from the spot for the hosts’ fourth of the night, before a Yasser Al Rawashdeh own goal summed up his side’s struggles.
An added time free kick was fired home by Alban Meha, but it would prove to be merely consolation for the Jordanians as Nasaf join the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis, Qatar’s Al Sadd and Al Wasl from the United Arab Emirates in Group C.
