AFC Champions League 2021: FC Goa loses 0-2 to Al Wahda in final group match
Goals from Omar Khribin and Mohammed Ali Menhali Barquesh helped Al Wahda clinch all three points on the night against FC Goa.
Published : Apr 30, 2021 00:54 IST
Indian club FC Goa suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of UAE's Al Wahda in the final group stage match to end its maiden campaign in the AFC Champions League on a disappointing note on Thursday.
Already out of reckoning for a place in the knockouts, FC Goa played the match without its foreign players and also missed the services of Spanish head coach Juan Ferrando, as they had been allowed to leave the country in view of the restrictions being imposed on flights from India globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An unmarked Omar Khrbin struck in the 61st minute, taking advantage of a brilliant ball from Tim Matvaz, sending his shot on to the left side of the FC Goa goalkeeper.
Al Wahda almost doubled the lead but goalkeeper Naveen Kumar, who replaced first-choice custodian Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem after an injury he picked following a collision with his own defender, managed to save the attempt by the visiting side in the 72nd minute.
However, the visitors made it 2-0 when Mohammed Ali Menhali found the back of the net in the 90th minute.
The Indian Super League club didn't have any clear cut chances in the first half but managed to defend well, even as Al Wahda looked to attack on a regular basis.
Persepolis FC of Iran topped the group with 15 points after beating Al Rayyan of Qatar earlier in the day. Al Wahda also qualified for the knockouts as one of three best runners-up with 13 points.
The Indian outfit failed to register a win but logged three points after drawing three matches and losing as many games.