Komail Al Aswad fired in a hat-trick last night to spearhead Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya to a resounding 4-1 victory over Air Force SC of Iraq in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League (ACL) Two.
Al Aswad also supplied the assist that led to their other goal, scored by Iraqi professional Dhurgham Ismael, as the Bahrainis posted their third straight triumph in Group B of the continental competition’s preliminary round.
The result also made it back-to-back wins for Khaldiya against Air Force. They had previously beaten the Iraqis in Baghdad 2-1 in their first meeting held last month.
Meanwhile, in yesterday’s other divisional fixture, Al Taawoun FC of Saudi Arabia routed Altyn Asyr FC of Turkmenistan 4-0 in Ashgabat.
Taawoun claimed their third win and are tied with Khaldiya on the Group B table with nine points apiece, but currently have a superior goal difference. Air Force are third on the standings with six points after being handed their second loss last night, while Altyn Asyr have four defeats in as many games and have yet to register any points.
The ACL Two is the second-tier club competition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Rebranded from the AFC Cup, it is one level below the AFC Champions League Elite and one above the AFC Challenge League.
In last night’s contest, played at the National Stadium in Riffa, Al Aswad gave the Ali Ashoor-coached hosts a fantastic start, scoring after only four minutes. The star Bahraini international hit a right-footed shot from close range into the centre of goal to give his team the early lead, which they held on to until the half.
Ismael then doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute. Air Force goalkeeper Mohammad Raheem left his line to challenge Al Aswad on the edge of the box, and Al Aswad found an unmarked Ismael racing towards goal. Ismael made no mistake with his effort, which he sent into an empty net.
Al Aswad then scored Khaldiya’s third just four minutes later. He was all alone in a quick counter-attack and as he approached the area, stopped his run a couple of yards out and chipped the ball over a charging Raheem.
Air Force got their lone consolation with 11 minutes left in regular time. Alaa Abbas headed home over Khaldiya goalkeeper Ammar Mohammed off a pass by teammate Mustafa Waleed.
But Khaldiya were not done and they were awarded a penalty in the 88th minute. After Mustafa Sadoun brought down Khaldiya’s Mahdi Abduljabbar in the box, Al Aswad stepped forward to take the spot kick, which he sent to the bottom-left corner to secure his hat-trick.
Khaldiya are back in action in the ACL Two later this month for their penultimate Group B assignment. It will be against Taawoun in the Saudi city of Buraidah on November 27. They then wrap up their schedule against Altyn Asyr at home on December 4.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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