Friday 31 / October / 2025
MUSCAT: Oman’s Al Shabab Club came from behind to beat Altyn Asyr FC 3-1 in their deciding AFC Challenge League 2025/26 Group A clash in Bhutan's Thimphu on Friday and book their slot in the quarter-finals, topping the group with nine points.
However, the other Oman club in action, Seeb, lost to Lebanon's Al Ansar 2-1 in Sulaibikhat, on Friday.
In Thimphu, Altyn Asyr Zafar Babajanow’s first-half goal at the Changlimithang Stadium was cancelled out by Kenean Maleko and Hatem Al Rushadi’s brace, leaving the Turkmenistan outfit’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage as the best second-placed side dependent on results from the other West Zone groups.
Al Shabab’s Al Rushadi’s low drive from outside the area in the fourth minute sounded the boards after missing the left post by inches - a shot his teammates Mohamed Al Ghafri and Yousuf Al Malki replicated minutes later.
The Oman side had good opportunities to take the lead in the first 20 minutes, but poor finishing and wet conditions stymied attempts by Musab Al Maamari, Al Ghafri and Al Rushadi.
Altyn Asyr struck against the run of play just before the half hour mark when Babajanow rose above defender Majid Al Saad to head in from close range following a corner from Hosgeldi Hojowow.
Yaseen Al Sheyadi and Al Malki were denied the equaliser when Dovletyar Berdiyev saved their long-distance attempts before Kenean Maleko made sure a minute before the break by collecting a through ball from Mahmood Al Khusaibi and running between two defenders before sliding the ball past the keeper’s outstretched arms.
Al Shabab’s strong start to the second half paid off as they went one up in the 53rd minute when Al Rushadi’s shot from outside the area dipped beyond Berdiyev’s reach.
Rahman Myratberdiyew came close to levelling the score in the 66th minute when he connected with a looping cross from Hojowow, but his first-time touch in the area went just wide of the left post.
Hojanazar Gurbanov’s header from a tight angle on the right 11 minutes later was tipped over by Ibrahim Al Mukhaini while Hojowow, so precise with his crosses, ballooned his shot from outside the area in the 78th minute.
Al Rushadi put the match beyond doubt two minutes into time added on when he latched on to a pass from Maleko - who evaded the defence down the left - and calmly chipped his shot past an out-of-position Berdiyev.
Meanwhile, in Sulaibikhat: Al Ansar FC stayed on course for a place in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 Round of 16 after coming from behind to defeat Seeb Club 2-1 in their Group B tie.
The win vaulted Al Ansar to the top of the standings with six points but the Lebanon side will have to wait to see how Kuwait SC fare in their later tie against Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings, with the three-time AFC Cup champions on four points. Seeb remain on 4 points.
