Doha: Goals from El Jaish’s Brazilian duo of Wagner Ribeiro and Romarinho in the final 12 minutes saved the Qatari club from suffering a major upset in the AFC Champions League play-offs as they edged past Al Nahda with a 2-1 scoreline after the Omani club had taken an early lead in Tuesday’s Preliminary Round.
Ely Cheikh Samba El Voullany had opened the scoring on the fourth minute for the Omani champions at Al Gharafa Stadium and the visitors defence had held out for long spells of El Jaish pressure.
But Wagner Ribeiro found a way through on the 78th minute before Romarinho completed the come-from-behind victory for the hosts, who reached the Round of 16 in the 2013 tournament, in the first minute of added time.
El Jaish will travel to Iran next Tuesday to face Naft Tehran for a place in Group B alongside Uzbek champions Pakhtakor, Saudi club Al Shabab and inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
Al Nahda, who have never participated in the AFC Champions League before but did reach the semi-finals of the 2008 AFC Cup, got off to the perfect start in Doha as they took the lead in the opening minutes.
Said Al Razaiqi launched a quick attack before sending the ball into the path of El Voullany and the Mauritanian forward powered ahead before firing a ferocious shot from the edge of the area which flew under the hands of the helpless goalkeeper Saoud Mubarak.
Having been shocked into action after the early setback, El Jaish responded and laid siege to the Al Nahda goal with the visitors spending most of the first period hemmed in their own half. However, it was not until a minute before half-time that their hosts created a gilt-edged opportunity.
After a corner from the right, Abdulqadir Ilyas attempted a first time flick on goal but the ball was cleared off the goal line by Al Nahda defender Ali Al Busaidi.
El Jaish continued their dominance into the second period as they sought to restore parity and with 15 minutes remaining Korea Republic international Lee Keun-ho went close with a curled shot from inside the area by but Al Nahda goalkeeper Sulaiman Al Breiki was alert to the danger and saved well.
However, the home side did not have to wait long for their leveller as substitute Wagner Ribeiro converted a free-kick on 78 minutes from just outside the penalty area that had been won by fellow second-half replacement and compatriot Romarinho.
Romarinho almost scored himself just a minute later but he saw his first-time volley from close range crash against the crossbar.
But the former Corinthians forward was able to have the final say in the tie as Ilyas sent a cross from the right into the area which Al Nahda defender Mohamed Montassar failed to clear and Romarinho was in the right place and time to fire the ball into the roof of the net.
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