Group C of the 2017 AFC Cup came to a conclusion on Monday with Jordan's Al Wehdat securing qualification to the next round. Let's take a detailed look at what happened in the two Group C games:-
AL WEHDAT 3-2 AL MUHARRAQ [Antic 1' Amara 45+1' Faisal 60' - Fuakuputu 49' Jamal 75']
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Jordanian side Al Wehdat qualified for the West Zone playoffs as Group C winners after overcoming Bahrain's Al Muharraq 3-2 in a thrilling game at home on Monday. Al Muharraq were a point ahead of Al Wehdat, going into this game but Al Wehdat showed their resolve and turned the tables around.
The match began with a bang as the home side went ahead within 35 seconds as Sebastian Antic headed powerfully home from close range after an early corner was flicked on by a teammate. Al Muharraq were unable to fashion an equaliser in the first half and paid the price at the end of the half as Monther Abu Amara ran on to a lofted pass from midfield before lifting the ball over the covering defender and firing home. Al Muharraq came out after the break with intent and got a goal back within four minutes. A freekick into the box from the right wing was not dealt with and it pinballed around the area and fell kindly to Doris Fuakuputu who nodded it home.
But Al Wehdat made it 3-1 at the hour mark after the Muharraq goalkeeper spilt a shot from Amara, only to see Baha Faisal knock the rebound in. But fifteen minutes later, Ali Jamal's ran onto a neat through ball and slotted a low finish home to make the scoreline read 3-2 and set up a grandstand finish.
However, an equaliser evaded Al Muharraq as Al Wehdat rejoiced on the night.
SAHAM 3-1 NEJMEH [Al Ghassani 36', 74', 87' - Cofie 13']
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Oman's Saham SC ensured they will not finish bottom of the group by overcoming Lebanese side Nejmeh 3-1 on Monday, courtesy a splendid hattrick from Mohammad Al Ghassani. The win meant they have seven points and are placed above Nejmeh who have just the four points to show for this season's efforts in the AFC Cup.
It was the visitors who drew first blood on the night when Nicolas Cofie met Nadar Matar's inswinging freekick from the left wing and directed a good header past the Saham goalkeeper. However, the home team hit back in the 36th minute with Al Ghassani notching his first of the night with a glancing header at the near post from a corner. With the score at 1-1, the game looked to be winding down for a draw but Al Ghassani had other ideas.
He popped up in the 74th minute to slide in Jildemar's cross into the box from the right wing. Al Ghassan then finished the game with a flourish as he tapped home Faisal Al Briaki's square ball after he covered a lot of ground down the right wing and got to the byline.