Mirholdirshaev salvages for Mash'al in AFC Champions League

Shuhratbek Mirholdirshaev's injury-time equaliser earned Uzbekistan's Mash'al a share of the spoils against last year's AFC Champions League runners-up Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates in a dramatic Group B clash in Karshi on Wednesday.

Cote d'Ivoire midfielder Ibrahim Diaky's 15th-minute strike looked to have settled the tie until the 24-year-old frontman stunned the 2003 ACL champions with a last-gasp leveller, leaving both teams in contention for top spot with four points from their opening two fixtures.

Mash'al, from the small Uzbek city of Mubarek, were forced to play their first home Champions League tie in Karshi as their own facilities did not meet the competition regulations but this did not appear to matter as a 10,000-strong crowd packed out the city's Nasaf stadium.

The hosts went into the game without Uzbekistan international striker Zafar Kholmurodov, who was injured after scoring the winner against domestic league rivals Khoresm, prompting coach Victor Djalilov to go with the pairing of Mirkholdirshaev and Viktor Klishin.

The Mash'al players looked nervous in the opening stages against their illustrious opponents but quickly settled and fired an early warning to the visitors in the 14th minute.

Botir Karaev found room down the flank and fired over an inviting cross and Mirkholdirshaev was only centimetres away from connecting in front of goal.

The scare appeared to awaken Al Ain from their slumber and Diaky pounced to leave Mash'al goalkeeper Yuriy Tsoy with no chance on the quarter hour.

Al Ain continued to press and Faisal Ali should have done better midway through the half but lost his nerve when left one-on-one with Tsoy and the chance was gone.

The home supporters were up in arms in the 31st minute when Karaev crossed for Rustam Kadirov who planted his header into the back of the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

They were on their feet again six minutes later when Klishin's cross found Hamza Karimov but his shot was parried by Al Ain keeper Waleed Saleem, who was up quickly to keep out Klishin's follow-up.

Mash'al continued on the front foot in the second half as they went in search of an equaliser and were almost rewarded after 53 minutes when Mirkholdirshaev found a yard of space but his fierce shot sailed over the Al Ain crossbar.

Bakhriddin Vahobov saw his late effort fly agonisingly wide after good work from Rashidjon Gofurov and it looked as though Mash'al would be left with nothing to show for their efforts until Mirkholdirshaev popped up in the fourth minute of added time to volley past Saleem.

Source: Xinhua