Losses for Qatari clubs in AF Champions League

Qatar’s Al Gharafa Ahmed Faris (left) battles for the ball with Iran's Piroozi Amir Hossein Feshangchi Iran’s Piroozi Athletic yesterday crushed Qatar’s Al Gharafa 3-0 in a clinical performance that left the hosts reeling and looking at the realistic possibility of an early exit in the AFC

Champions League. For the victors, Gholam Reza Rezaei, Eamon Zayed and Javad Kazemian  were on the scoresheet. Al Gharafa, who are coached by Paulo Silas, failed to impress or ignite any sort of fight in the Group D clash which was played at the Thani Bin Jassem Stadium. The loss compounds Al Gharafa's recent run of form, leaving them, without a win in three games.

Al Gharafa recently played out two draws before their losing drought in March. Attention now turns back to the Qatar Stars League (QSL).

Action in QSL resumes on April 7.

In Tashkent yesterday, local side Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan destroyed Qatar’s Al Arabi 3-1 in their AFC Champions League clash. Playing on home soil, the hosts fired scored two late goals to hand Al Arabi their third straightloss in the group.
Sherzod Karimov opened the scoring for the home side with a weak shot which unluckily deflected off an Al Arabi defender into the net.However, from this misfortunate Al Arabi rallied to produce the equaliser with the Argentine striker Leonardo Piscuulichi clinically finishing from close range.

Dilshod Sharofetdinov restored Pakhtakor's lead in the 74th minute and only seconds before the final whistle, Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov put the match beyond doubt for the home side by firing in the third in the 90th minute.
Al Arabi, who are coached by Frenchamn Pierre Lechantre, welcome Pakhtakor at the Grand Hamad Stadium on April 17.