Tashkent: Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) lost their first match today against their host, Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi, by a score of 1-0 in the AFC Champions League, West Asia Group.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the two teams traded control of the game from the start, with a slight advantage for Nasaf Qarshi, who had the first opportunity when Yan Sassi received the ball and fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, narrowly missing the post in the 12th minute. Despite Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’s improved performance, they failed to create real scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, Nasaf Qarshi continued their attempts, with Akramjon Alibaev’s shot going wide in the 22nd minute.

The Uzbek team varied their methods of reaching Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’s half, with Abrarbek Ismailov active on the left flank. He crossed the ball from a corner kick into the penalty area, where Stipe Perika’s header went wide of the goal. Uzbekistan continued their attempts in the final minutes of the first half, but Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’s solid defense kept the score unchanged, postponing the decision until the second half.

Neftchi appeared on the offensive from the outset of the second half. The first attempt came in the 50th minute when Alisher Adilov followed up a cross from the right, but his shot went wide. Francisco Ferreira followed with a shot over the crossbar. Kofi Kouao also fired a shot just wide of the post, and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya goalkeeper Mohammed Saleh made crucial saves against Ferreira and Stipe Perica in the 61st and 62nd minutes.

Neftchi’s pressure continued, with several chances for Marusic and Kouao. The Uzbek team’s goalkeeper thwarted a header from Mohammad Javad, and Bilalkhan Tushmirzaev’s header went wide in the 76th minute. Neftchi’s dominance was rewarded when Kofi Kouao crossed to Zoran Marusic, who headed into the net in the 83rd minute, sealing the victory as Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya failed to equalize.

The league stage features 32 teams, with the top eight teams from each group qualifying for the knockout rounds. In the second round, Neftchi will visit Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia on October 12, while Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya will host Al-Ain of the UAE in an all-Arab clash.