Jardine delighted as Shabab Al Ahli make three in a row with win over Esteghlal

Andre Jardine was delighted as Shabab Al Ahli made it a three wins on Tuesday, joining fellow UAE side Al Ain as the only teams still perfect in the West Zone of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27.

The 2-0 victory against Iran’s Esteghlal, however, did not come easily and head coach Jardine was pleased to see how his players passed a stern test.

“I congratulate Esteghlal on their performance and I also commend our own players for their mature and intelligent display,” said Jardine.

“The match required a great deal of patience, especially since our opponents defended with a large number of players, making it difficult for us to reach their goal.

“We managed to remain patient and handle the flow of the game effectively. Furthermore, we did not allow our opponents to create many chances, which was a key factor in securing the win.”

With the starting XI not able to find the breakthrough after a balanced first half, Jardine called for change near the hour mark and the substitutions turned the game in favour of Shabab Al Ahli.

They started the second half on the front foot, with Sardar Azmoun slipping a through ball to Breno in the 51st minute, but the forward’s effort from inside the box was repelled by Far Abbasi.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Azmoun split the Esteghlal defence open with a deep ball into the box for substitute Matheus Lima, who volleyed home past a rooted Far Abbasi.

Esteghlal’s push for an equaliser left them exposed at the back and Shabab Al Ahli took advantage in the 83rd minute when Lima started the move down the left before Azmoun laid the ball off for Juan Alvina to score from the edge of the six-yard box as the UAE side made it three wins out of three.

“Once again, our substitutions proved highly effective. I want to praise the players who came off the bench; they are making vital contributions, which reflects the team’s overall readiness and ability to navigate challenging matches.

“This victory brings us closer to achieving the goals we set for ourselves in this tournament, and we must continue our hard work in the coming phase,” he added.

The UAE side moved up to nine points while Esteghlal’s winning run came to an end.

Prats hails Al Shamal’s focus: David Prats credited Al Shamal’s discipline and tactical execution after the debutants defeated Al Hilal 3-1 at Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday to claim their first AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 victory.

The result lifted the Qatari side to five points and sixth place in the West Zone standings, just one point behind Al Hilal, who saw their unbeaten run in the League Stage since the competition’s revamp come to an end.

“I’m pleased with the team’s performance, especially considering we defeated Al Hilal,” said Prats.

“I was surprised by some of the absences (Al Hilal players), but our primary focus remained on our own team, while still showing respect for Al Hilal.”

“The key to our victory was respecting the opponents and the players’ successful execution of the tactical plan.

“We will celebrate today, then begin preparations for our next match against Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League, while also focusing on recovery following such an intense game.”

Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi said fatigue affected his team after a strong opening half.

“Defeat is painful, this is my third loss since taking charge of the team,” said Inzaghi. “We played a great first half but in the second half, fatigue prevented us from delivering the performance we expected.”