Ittihad snatch important win from Neftchi's home ground

Jamshid Iskanderov opened the scoring for Neftchi with a penalty in the 17th minute, awarded by the referee after a VAR review for a handball by Georgi Elinikhina, before another goal for the Uzbek team was ruled out for offside.

Houssem Aouar brought the team back into the match in the 34th minute, rising to meet a cross from Steven Bergwijn on the right and heading it into the net, ending the first half with a goal apiece for each team.

Neftchi applied pressure in the second half with dangerous chances, while Ittihad tried to regain the initiative. Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti missed a scoring opportunity in the 72nd minute after the Uzbek team's goalkeeper saved his powerful shot.

Youssef En-Nesyri secured the win in the 91st minute with a precise strike from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, giving Al-Ittihad an important away victory at the Pakhtakor Stadium in Fergana.

The victory raised Al-Ittihad's tally to four points, temporarily placing them seventh in the Western Group standings, while Neftchi's points remain at three, putting them in eighth place.

Al-Ittihad secured a valuable victory against their hosts Neftchi in Uzbekistan, winning 2-1 after coming from behind with a late goal from Youssef En-Nesyri in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite.