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Sharjah FC salvaged a crucial 1-1 draw against Qatari side Al Duhail in the seventh round of the AFC Champions League Elite, keeping their qualification hopes alive heading into the final matchday. The match, played in Doha on Monday, saw both teams remain on eight points, with Sharjah sitting in eighth place and Al Duhail in seventh as the group stage nears its conclusion.
Igor Coronado converted a penalty in the 41st minute to give Sharjah the lead, while Youssef Msakni equalized for Al Duhail from the spot in the 81st minute. The result leaves Sharjah with a chance to advance when they host Uzbekistan’s Nasaf at Sharjah Stadium next Monday in their final group match.
Sharjah Withstands Early Pressure in AFC Champions League Clash
Al Duhail dominated the opening 20 minutes with 63% possession and came close to scoring when Boubacar Soumary struck the post. Sharjah coach Cosmin Moga made seven changes from the previous match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, while Al Duhail manager Jamal Belmadi rotated five players in his starting lineup.
The deadlock broke when Coronado stepped up to take a penalty after Al Duhail goalkeeper Mohamed Alhaj brought down Luan Pereira following a precise pass from Saldanha. The Brazilian midfielder made no mistake from 12 yards, giving Sharjah a deserved lead heading into halftime.
Second Half Sees Missed Opportunities
Sharjah maintained their attacking balance after the break and nearly doubled their advantage in the 60th minute. Luan Pereira missed a golden opportunity with a header following an excellent cross from Feras Al Arabi, according to match reports.
Meanwhile, Al Duhail increased their pressure from all areas of the pitch in search of an equalizer. The Sharjah defense successfully employed the offside trap at crucial moments to frustrate the Qatari champions’ attacking efforts.
Additionally, Moga introduced striker Caio Lucas in place of Saldanha in the 68th minute to reinvigorate the attacking phase. However, the substitution preceded Al Duhail’s equalizer when the referee awarded a second penalty after initially missing a foul in the area.
Qualification Scenarios for Sharjah
The draw maintains Sharjah’s position in the race for knockout stage qualification from the AFC Champions League Elite group. With eight points from seven matches, the UAE side must secure a positive result against Nasaf in their final fixture to have any chance of progressing.
In contrast, Al Duhail also remain in contention with the same points tally but hold seventh position on tiebreaker criteria. Both teams demonstrated competitive quality throughout the 90 minutes, with neither able to establish complete control.
The match showcased Sharjah’s resilience in one of Asia’s most challenging club competitions. Despite making significant lineup changes, the team delivered a solid performance against experienced continental opposition.
Furthermore, the penalty decisions proved decisive in determining the final outcome. Both spot kicks resulted from goalkeeper challenges on opposing attackers, highlighting the fine margins that often define matches at this level of Asian football.
Sharjah will now focus their full attention on the decisive encounter with Nasaf next Monday. The fixture at Sharjah Stadium represents their final opportunity to secure advancement, though the exact qualification requirements will depend on other results in the group. The team’s fate remains uncertain heading into the concluding matchday of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.
