Uzbekistan’s Nasaf secured a spot in the AFC Champions League Play-offs on Tuesday thanks to a comfortable 4-0 Preliminary Stage win over Al Hidd from Bahrain.
The victory sees Karshi based Nasaf, who finished third in the Uzbek top-flight last season, set up a clash with Saudi Arabian side Al Fateh on February 7, while defeat means Al Hidd are set to continue their continental adventure in the AFC Cup’s Group Stage.
Nasaf striker Shakhboz Erkinov opened the score at the Bunyodkor Stadium on 16 minutes, before Igor Golban doubled his side’s advantage ten minutes later.
Bahrain champions Al Hidd rallied to hold their own, but duly went further behind when substitute Doniyor Narzullayev added a third for Nasaf on 77 minutes.
Dragan Ceran rounded off the scoring late on to further boost Nasaf morale ahead of their intriguing clash with Al Fateh.
Line-ups.
Nasaf: Sanjar Kuvvatov, Akmal Shorahmedov, Aziz Ganiev, Shakhboz Erkinov, Bahrom Abdurahimov, Islom Kenjaboev, Igor Golban, Sherzod Azamov, Odiljon Hamrobekov, Farrukh Saifiyev, Dragan Ceran.
Substitutes: Eldorbek Suyunov, Maksud Karimov, Dilshod Rakhmatullaev, Sharof Muhiddinov, Islom Rashidhonov, Doniyor Narzullaev, Bobir Abdukholikov.
Al Hidd: Abbas Ahmad, Abdullah Fatadi, Uche Agba, Muhammad Al-Daoud, Arandut Orok, Ibrahim Al-Obaidly, Syed Muhammad Adnan, Ifedayo Olusegun, Isa Musabbeh, Rashid Al-Houthi, Ahmad Bugammar.
Substitutes: Mahmoud Mansour, Ahmad Ibrahim al-Hathal, Abdullah Nasir Al-Saker, Hamad Al-Banki, Khalid Al-Samkhari, Muhammad Maki Ali , Ali Said.