Al-Arabi bids farewell to the Asian Challenge League

Al-Arabi were eliminated from the AFC Challenge League after suffering their second defeat of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Tajikistan’s Istiklol in the second round of Group 2, played in Tajikistan. As a result, Al-Arabi failed to earn any points from their two matches, while Istiklol moved to three points.

Syria’s Al-Hamra Al-Fida topped the group with six points after defeating Lebanon’s Al-Najma 2-1, leaving the Lebanese side with three points.

Neither team produced any notable technical performance in the first half, with most passes being intercepted in the final third, and dangerous chances were scarce. Istiklol opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Rustam Serov, after breaking through on goal, fired a powerful shot past Al-Arabi goalkeeper Ahmed Adawi.

In the second half, Al-Arabi attempted to change the scoreline by bringing on Youssef Majed and Ali Khalaf, but their attacking threat remained limited due to an inability to penetrate the opponent’s defense. Their most dangerous chance came from substitute defender Abdulaziz Nasiri, whose shot struck the post in the 80th minute.

Five minutes before the end of the match, Istiklol doubled their lead in the 85th minute with a powerful long-range strike from Ali Shiksharov.