Fergana's football club Neftchi hosted Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage, resulting in a disappointing 1:2 defeat on home soil. Despite an energetic start and moments of control from the hosts, they ultimately failed to secure points in a tightly contested match.

The hosts initially gained an advantage in the opening stages of the game, translating their pressure into a breakthrough. In the 17th minute, Jamshid Iskanderov successfully converted a penalty kick to open the scoring and give the Uzbek side the lead. However, the visitors gradually adapted, with Houssem Aouar equalizing the score in the 34th minute.

As the match neared its conclusion, the Saudi side capitalized on a set-piece opportunity in the dying moments. Youssef En-Nesyri delivered a precise free-kick in the 90th minute, snatching a dramatic victory for his team and leaving the hosts empty-handed. Following this result, the Fergana club sits in 9th place in the tournament standings with 3 points.

Neftchi is scheduled to play its next fixture on November 2 away against Iran's Tractor club. Notably, the upcoming encounter will take place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, due to neutral venue arrangements.

Source: kun.uz