Khalid Bawazir excels as Sharjah beat Air Force

Mohammad Abdullah, Sports Reporter

Khalid Bawazir scored the lone goal of the match as Sharjah defeated Air Force of Iraq in their AFC Champions League match on Wednesday.

Bawazir slotted a pass off Caio from the left side of the six-yard box into the net to put Sharjah 1-0 up in the 62nd minute. Air Force did try hard to retore the parity with some attacking football but an agile Sharjah goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani put up a brave a front to defy the visitors with some great athletic display.

With the victory, Sharjah went on the top of their group with three points while Air Force were left at the bottom. Pakhtakor and Tractor, who played a thrilling 3-3 draw earlier in the evening, are occupying second and third places respectively with one point each.

Earlier, Air Force came closest to scoring in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a penalty. But they failed to capitalize on the opportunity as captain Humam Tariq spurned the chance to slot a pass from Aymen Hussein into the post.

The score remained 0-0 and the match looked destined to be heading towards a draw. However, both the teams were trying hard to break the deadlock and take lead. Air Force were playing more attacking game as they dribbled the ball well to keep the possession more.

Salem Saleh of Sharjah could not dispatch the ball into the net off a pass from Luanzinho as the former’s right-footed shot from a close range went higher than intended.

Few moments later, there was a big collision between Ryman of Air Force and Sharjah captain Shaheen, which left both the players bleeding. Both the players left the field in blood as the game reached half-time with scores tied at 0-0.

Ibrahim Bayesh had an opportunity to put Air Force 1-0 up when he was awarded a free kick for a foul committed by Khaled Ebraheim of Sharjah. But his header from the centre of the box was too wayward to give Sharjah any scare and went to the right of the net.