Al Nasr advance

Al Nasr qualified for the next round of the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history.

Third time is the charm. After twin failed attempts, Al Nasr qualified for the next round of the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history after being involved in a stalemate against Uzbekistan's Lokomotiv in Tashkent on Wednesday night.
The first leg at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai on April 20, had ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Blue Wave played out a goalless draw in the Uzbekistan capital which meant they, as well as their hosts Lokomotiv, made it out of the group stages for the very first time. Lokomotiv topped Group A with 10 points while Al Nasr and Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad were tied on nine points after the latter blanked Iran's Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan 2-0.
Despite that win for Al Ittihad in Muscat, Al Nasr went through to the Round of 16 as the second-placed team due to their better head-to-head record. Ivan Jovanovic's men had defeated Al Ittihad 2-1 at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah in the middle of March before playing out a goalless draw against the 2004 and 2005 winners in the return leg at the Al Maktoum Stadium, earlier last month.
Al Nasr will take on Group C winners Tractorsazi Tabriz in the Round of 16, while Lokomotiv meet Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.
Al Nasr and Lokomotiv knew that a draw would suffice for them to make the cut and that meant a rather slow-paced first half. Lokomotiv had the lion's share of forays in the half with Ikromjon Alibaev and Server Djeparov coming close for the leaders in the Uzbek League.
Alibaev tested Al Nasr goalkeeper Ahmed Shambih with a long ranger but the latter averted the danger. Later, Djeparov, twice AFC Player of the Year, volleyed a threatening ball inside the box but no one could make contact. Alibaev came up with another long ranger but he flashed it wide of the woodwork.
Al Nasr reacted with Jires Kembo-Ekoko going close after the restart but the former Al Ain man's effort from the edge of the box, just whizzed over the cross bar. At the other end, Sanjar Shaakhmedov was denied by Shambih from 20 yards out. - james@khaleejtimes.com