Al Shorta SC 1, PFK Nasaf 1

FARGʻONA, Uzbekistan (Interstat) — In a tightly contested AFC Champions League group stage opener, PFK Nasaf of Uzbekistan and Iraq’s Al Shorta SC played to a 1-1 draw on Monday at Stadion Istiqlol. The result, which defied pre-match projections favoring the home side, left both teams with a single point as they began their campaigns in Asia’s premier club competition. Nasaf, playing before a home crowd in Fargʻona, seized the early initiative. Midfielder Murodbek Rahmatov opened the scoring in just the eighth minute, finishing a play to give the hosts a lead they would carry for an hour. The early… Read more...