The Saudi Arabian side recovered from an early setback in Uzbekistan, with Houssem Aouar equalising before En-Nesyri struck in the 90th minute. In the United Arab Emirates, Al-Ain relied on goals from Ramy Rabia and Houssine Rahimi to claim their third consecutive win.
En-Nesyri Seals Dramatic Al-Ittihad Victory
Al-Ittihad travelled to Uzbekistan seeking their first victory in this season’s AFC Champions League Elite campaign, but Neftchi made a strong start at Istiqlol Stadium.
The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute when Jamshid Iskanderov converted a penalty after a VAR review resulted in a handball decision against Al-Ittihad striker George Ilenikhena.
Al-Ittihad responded in the 34th minute. Steven Bergwijn delivered a cross that Aouar met with a header, restoring parity and giving the visitors a foothold in the contest.
The match remained finely balanced after the interval, with both teams searching for a decisive goal. Al-Ittihad introduced En-Nesyri in the second half, and the Morocco international made the difference at the crucial moment.
The substitute scored in the 90th minute to complete the comeback and give Al-Ittihad a valuable 2–1 away victory.
The result lifted Al-Ittihad to four points from their opening three matches, providing an important boost to their campaign.
Al-Ain Extend Winning Run Against Tractor
Al-Ain continued their impressive continental form with a 2–1 home victory over Tractor FC at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
Egyptian defender Rabia opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a powerful long-range effort, giving the hosts the advantage before half-time.
Tractor responded after the break, with Tibor Halilović equalising in the 55th minute to put the visitors back into the contest.
Al-Ain regained the lead in the 70th minute when Moroccan forward Rahimi finished a delivery from Yahya Ben Khaleq. The goal proved decisive as the Emirati side held on to secure all three points.
The victory took Al-Ain to nine points from three matches, maintaining their perfect record in the competition. Tractor, meanwhile, remained on one point after three games.
Al-Qadsiah Held by Al-Sadd
In another match on Monday, Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah drew 1–1 with Qatar’s Al-Sadd.
Christopher Bonsu Baah continued his impressive form for Al-Qadsiah by coming off the bench to provide the assist for Julián Quiñones’ late equaliser.
Malian midfielder Mohamed Camara also contributed an assist for Al-Sadd, who were unable to hold on to their advantage.
The draw gave both sides a point as the league phase continued.
Results and Goalscorers
• Neftchi Fergana 1–2 Al-Ittihad: Jamshid Iskanderov 17' (pen); Houssem Aouar 34', Youssef En-Nesyri 90'
• Al-Ain 2–1 Tractor FC: Ramy Rabia 21', Houssine Rahimi 70'; Tibor Halilović 55'
• Al-Qadsiah 1–1 Al-Sadd: Julián Quiñones scored Al-Qadsiah’s late equaliser.
What the Results Mean
Al-Ain’s third consecutive victory strengthened their position at the top of the league-phase standings, while Al-Ittihad’s comeback provided a timely lift after a challenging start to their continental campaign.
For Al-Ittihad, the performances of Aouar and En-Nesyri proved decisive in turning an early deficit into a valuable away win. Al-Ain, meanwhile, demonstrated their ability to respond after conceding and maintain their winning momentum.
With the league phase continuing, both clubs will look to build on Monday’s results as they pursue qualification for the knockout stages.