Sharjah overcome Iraqi challenge to top Group B in AFC Champions League

Sharjah qualified for the knockout stages of the 2021 AFC Champions League for the first time in 17 years after beating Iraq’s Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 3-2 on Matchday Five in Group B on Monday.

With Tractor only managing a goalless draw against Pakhtakor in the group’s other match, Sharjah went into the fixture knowing a win would guarantee progress to the Round of 16 with a game to spare.

It was the Iraqi team that threatened first after 12 minutes as skipper Humam Tariq exploited a poor defensive clearance but sent his volley wide.

Three minutes later, the Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya final broke their 2021 AFC Champions League duck as Jefferson Collazos marked his full continental debut with a goal. The Colombian reacted fastest to poke the ball home after Sharjah goalkeeper Adel Al-Hosani had saved Ibrahim Bayesh’s initial effort.

Sharjah almost levelled immediately through Salem Saleh only for Iraqi international defender Ahmed Ibrahim to produce a last-ditch block.

The respite proved brief when defender Ali Kadhim lost possession to allow Sharjah’s Khalid Bawazir to strike an equaliser after 25 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Bawazir turned from scorer to creator, capping a quick counter-attacking move with a fine pass into the path of Saleh, who struck his second goal of the campaign on the half-volley.

The Iraqi team were back on level terms only seven minutes into the second half after Shareef Abdulkadhim split the Sharjah defence with a clever through ball and Collazos kept his composure to finish from close range.

Sharjah’s Saleh grabbed his second goal of the match on 60 minutes to give the Emirati club the lead, rising unopposed to head Ali Al-Dhanhani’s cross.

Coach Abdulaziz Al-Anbari’s men moved four points clear with a game to go, securing a place in the knockout stages.