Chiki scores the solitary goal for Goa
Hamza Khaba starred with a brace as Qadsia SC secured a 2-1 win over FC Goa on Friday to finish top of Group C of the AFC Challenge League.
Kuwait’s Qadsia completed their campaign with three wins as they cruised into the quarter-finals while India’s Goa were eliminated.
Qadsia SC made a bright start and took the lead in the 10th minute through Hamza Khaba, who met Rashed Al Dosary’s cross with a diving header into the bottom-left corner.
Goa looked to respond but struggled to create clearcut chances, with Malsawmsanga KC firing over the bar from the left side of the box, while Qadsia threatened again in the 16th minute through Khaba, who headed over the bar from close range after being set up by Bader Al Mutawa.
Goa eventually found the equaliser in the 21st minute when Alex Zalaya’s headed pass from a corner fell kindly for Chiki, who nodded home from close range.
Both sides pushed for a second goal, with Qadsia’s Bader Al Mutawa seeing his shot blocked before Goa’s Sandesh Jhingan headed wide from Muhammed Nemil’s corner.
Qadsia continued to dominate after the break and restored their lead in the 49th minute, with Al Mutawa exchanging passes with Khaba at the edge of the area before the latter finished with a curling effort into the top left corner.
The Kuwaiti side came close to further extending their lead in the 65th minute when Khaba teased a delightful lob into the box for Ayoub Lakhdar, only for the midfielder to lift his effort over the advancing Lara Sharma and the crossbar.
Goa were fortunate to survive another scare in the 80th minute when Lakhdar wriggled his way into the box, beating two defenders, before seeing his shot ricochet off the right post but in the end, Khaba’s brace ensured Qadsia advanced in style.
RESULTS
Qadsia (Kuw) bt FC Goa (Ind) 2-1
Al Ittihad Ahli of Aleppo (Syr) bt PAro FC (Bhu) 2-1
Homs Al Fidaa (Syr) bt FC Istiklol (Tjk) 2-0
Fortis FC (Ban) bt Regar-TadAz (Tjk) 3-1
Ahal FC (Tkm) bt Al Ansar (Lbn) 2-1
Nejmeh SC (Lbn) bt Al Arabi (Kuw) 3-1
