Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Amman: Akarandut Orok bagged a brace as Bahrain’s Al Hidd assured their passage into the second qualifying round of the 2014 AFC Champions League with a 3-1 extra-time win over Jordanian champions Shabab Al Ordon at Amman International Stadium on Sunday.
For much of the contest home side Shabab Al Ordon had looked the better team and they took the lead through Isam Al Mbaydin after a mistake by Al Hidd goalkeeper Abbas Ahmed just before half-time.
But with seven minutes to go the visitor’s Brazilian defender Tuca (Juliano Francisco de Paula) equalised from the penalty spot to take the match into extra-time, wherein Al Hidd’s Nigerian forward Orok twice combined with Abdulwahab Al Malood on the 96th and 102nd minutes to put the game beyond the Jordanians.
To compound matters Waseem Al Bzoor was dismissed for a straight red card with six minutes of extra-time remaining as Shabab Al Ordon finished the game with ten men.
“In all the away matches that we played this season we had a great performance and tonight we proved this once more,” said Al Hidd coach Adnan Ebrahim.
“We conceded a goal in the first half but we didn’t surrender and we tried to attack throughout the match.
“After we scored the equalizer, we had a lot of confidence in the extra times and we managed to score two goals before going into the penalty shootout.”
Keen to avenge their 2013 UAFA elimination at the hands of Al Hidd, and playing in front of their home fans, Shabab Al Ordon began the game brightly and held the upper hand for much of the first half before deservedly opening the scoring on 42 minutes.
Al Hidd custodian Ahmed fumbled a free-kick from Abdelhadi Al Maharmeh and the ball landed at the feet of Al Mbaydin who forced it on home on his second attempt.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, the home side sought to double their lead after the restart and continued to be the better side but they struggled to find a way past the Bahraini backline.
And with just eight minutes of the match remaining the lack of a second goal was to prove crucial.
Al Hidd forward Ebrahim Habib was fouled in the penalty box and Tuca stepped up to the spot and slammed the ball past Tamer Hameed in the Shabab Al Ordon goal.
In extra-time it was the turn of powerful forward Orok to step into the limelight.
Al Hidd’s new signing from Stade Tunisien linked twice with tricky winger Al Malood for two smart finishes by the Nigerian in a debut performance that took his side into the next round and a trip to Lekhwiya on February 8.
“Al Hidd deserved to win as they had a better performance and we couldn’t be good opponents for them,” said Shabab Al Ordon coach Ali Kumeikh.
Photo: WSG