Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya begin their AFC Champions League Elite campaign with defeat to Neftchi

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya suffered their first defeat in the AFC Champions League Elite after falling to hosts Neftchi Fergana by a goal to nil in a match that took place on Monday evening at the Independence Stadium during the first round of the league stage.

A last-minute goal denied Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya a valuable point in Uzbekistan, in a match that saw a great deal of balance but where the attacking effectiveness tilted in favour of the hosts.

The match began cautiously from both sides with attempts to control the midfield. Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya tried to advance the ball and reach the Neftchi goal, but they were met with a well-organized defensive block.

In contrast, the Uzbek team had a relative advantage supported by home ground and crowd, and they took more shots but without any real danger.

The final touch was missing from both teams' attacks, leading to a goalless draw at halftime, even though the home side had a slight edge in terms of play.

At the start of the second half, Neftchi intensified their attacking pressure. The Uzbek team reached Mohammed Saleh's goal several times and wasted clear chances due to haste and poor finishing.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya relied on quick counterattacks and came close on several occasions to surprising their opponents, but the Uzbek defense dealt with the balls with focus.

As time passed, it appeared that the match was heading for a goalless draw, but the 83rd minute brought the decisive moment.

A cross was met by Serbian Zoran Marusic, who powerfully headed it into the net past Mohammed Saleh, announcing Neftchi's lead with a crucial goal that unsettled the Falcons.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya tried to respond quickly in the remaining minutes but time was not on their side, as the match ended with a victory for the home side by one goal to nil.

With this result, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya begin their journey in the AFC Champions League Elite with a loss, remaining without points as they await the upcoming rounds.

In contrast, Neftchi Fergana has increased its tally to 3 points, putting it in a good position at the start of the group.

The loss came despite the Falcons' disciplined defensive performance, but the lack of attacking effectiveness and failure to capitalize on the few chances cost the team dearly.

The coaching staff of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya acknowledged the difficulty of the task away from home and confirmed that the focus now is on compensating for points in the upcoming matches.