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IKOLI VICTOR
Doha
Gelmin Rivas scored twice as Qatar’s Al Rayyan advanced into the 2019 AFC Champions League Group Stage defeating Iranian club Saipa 3-1 in the final play-off round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
The visitors drew the first blood in the third minute when Arman Ramezani’s shot from the centre of the box went past goalkeeper Fahad Baker. There was an appeal for a handball by the Rayyan players but the referee allowed the goal to stand.
The hosts struck back when Venezuelan striker Rivas, on his continental debut, equalised with a right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left of the goal post in the 27th minute after receiving a perfect pass from captain Rodrigo Tabata.
With the game dragging into extra-time, substitute Sebastian Soria’s header from inside the box gave Rayyan the lead with another Tabata assist from a set piece situation.
Rivas capped a man-of-the match performance with his second goal of the game with a blistering shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal in added time. Rivas, who joined Rayyan from Al Hilal, has now scored four goals in two appearances for the Lions, after his brace against Al Arabi in QNB Stars League last weekend.
It was an even game as both sides created chances following Saipa’s early goal. Rayyan missed a golden opportunity from Lucca Borges’ shot in the 18th minute.
The visitors too had their own chance from Arash Rezavand’s free kick that the Rayyan custodian parried away.
Rayyan continued to have the better of the possession and their pressure paid off when Tabata’s pass found Rivas inside the box, the striker blazed the ball to the left corner of the post to beat Akbar Monadi.
Just before the break, Tabata saw his strike hit the bar with the keeper having the slightest of touch to push it for a corner kick.
With just under 5 minutes to play, Ghanaian Samuel Sarfo hit the left post with a shot from the centre of the box to the relief of the home bench.
In extra-time, former Qatari international Tabata delivered a long ball from a set-piece that was neatly dispatched by Sebastian Soria’s header to turn the table in favour of the home team with a minute to go.
Just when the visitors were trying to build up an attack as they threw men forward, Rayyan struck again with Rivas doubling his tally from South Korean Koh Myong-Jin fine pass.
The victory means Qatar club Al Rayyan join two-time champions Al Ittihad as well as UAE’s Al Wahda and Uzbekistan’s PFC Lokomotiv in Group B.Scoreline
Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 3 (Gelmin Rivas 27’& 90’, Sebasti?n Soria 89’)
bt Saipa (IRN) 1 (Arman Ramezani 3’)
Doha
Gelmin Rivas scored twice as Qatar’s Al Rayyan advanced into the 2019 AFC Champions League Group Stage defeating Iranian club Saipa 3-1 in the final play-off round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.
The visitors drew the first blood in the third minute when Arman Ramezani’s shot from the centre of the box went past goalkeeper Fahad Baker. There was an appeal for a handball by the Rayyan players but the referee allowed the goal to stand.
The hosts struck back when Venezuelan striker Rivas, on his continental debut, equalised with a right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left of the goal post in the 27th minute after receiving a perfect pass from captain Rodrigo Tabata.
With the game dragging into extra-time, substitute Sebastian Soria’s header from inside the box gave Rayyan the lead with another Tabata assist from a set piece situation.
Rivas capped a man-of-the match performance with his second goal of the game with a blistering shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal in added time. Rivas, who joined Rayyan from Al Hilal, has now scored four goals in two appearances for the Lions, after his brace against Al Arabi in QNB Stars League last weekend.
It was an even game as both sides created chances following Saipa’s early goal. Rayyan missed a golden opportunity from Lucca Borges’ shot in the 18th minute.
The visitors too had their own chance from Arash Rezavand’s free kick that the Rayyan custodian parried away.
Rayyan continued to have the better of the possession and their pressure paid off when Tabata’s pass found Rivas inside the box, the striker blazed the ball to the left corner of the post to beat Akbar Monadi.
Just before the break, Tabata saw his strike hit the bar with the keeper having the slightest of touch to push it for a corner kick.
With just under 5 minutes to play, Ghanaian Samuel Sarfo hit the left post with a shot from the centre of the box to the relief of the home bench.
In extra-time, former Qatari international Tabata delivered a long ball from a set-piece that was neatly dispatched by Sebastian Soria’s header to turn the table in favour of the home team with a minute to go.
Just when the visitors were trying to build up an attack as they threw men forward, Rayyan struck again with Rivas doubling his tally from South Korean Koh Myong-Jin fine pass.
The victory means Qatar club Al Rayyan join two-time champions Al Ittihad as well as UAE’s Al Wahda and Uzbekistan’s PFC Lokomotiv in Group B.Scoreline
Al Rayyan SC (QAT) 3 (Gelmin Rivas 27’& 90’, Sebasti?n Soria 89’)
bt Saipa (IRN) 1 (Arman Ramezani 3’)
