Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sidon: Goals from Raja Rafe and Khaled Al Mbayed earned Syria’s Al Wadha a place in the group stage of the 2016 AFC Cup with a 2-0 win over Balkan from Turkmenistan at Saida Municipal Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Rafe struck in the first half before Al Mbayed doubled his side’s advantage seven minutes into the second half to take the Syrian side into Group C, alongside Oman’s Al Oruba, Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq and Shabab Al Dhahiriya of Palestine.
Al Wahda took a deserved lead in the 17th minute having dominated proceedings from the start, with Rafe netting after bursting down the left before firing off a shot that gave goalkeeper Pavel Matus little chance.
The home side remained on top after the opener, but it took until the 52nd minute before they added to their tally with Al Mbayed beating Matus to his left after the Balkan defence were unable to clear Osama Omari’s corner and Al Mbayed scoring after a pass from Rafe.
Al Wahda will kick off their 2016 campaign against Al Oruba in Muscat on February 24.