MUSCAT: Seeb dreams to secure a slot in the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2023-24 were dashed after they lost 1-0 against Uzbekistan's AGMK FC on Tuesday at the AMMC Sports Complex. The victory meant that the Uzbek team will meet Qatar’s Al Arabi club on Tuesday in Doha for a ticket to play in the group stage of the most prestigious club competition in Asia.
The only goal in the fixture was scored by Khurshid Giyosov in the 47th minute which was allowed by the main referee despite the tough interference of the Uzbek player on Seeb goalkeeper Ahmed al Rawahi who was down when Khurshid shot the ball to the net.
The 2022 AFC Cup Champion tried to work hard and press to score the equaliser during the remaining period but all their attempts were saved by the opponent defenders and the goalkeeper.
The hosts played with 10 players from the 74th minute after Martin Boakye received a red card. However, the shortage in the rival team was not utilised properly by Seeb players to score the equaliser. It was clear that Seeb’s men were lacking the match spirit as there were not any real scoring solutions for them. AGMK, supported by the home fans, managed to tighten their defence in the last minutes of the match and blocked all the movements by Seeb’s attackers.
Seeb, mentored by newly appointed head coach Jorvan Vieira, began the match with Ahmed al Rawahi as the goalkeeper. The defence was headed by Mohammed al Musallami, Ahmed al Khamisi, Ali al Busaidi and Hassan al Ajmi. The captain of the team, Eid al Farsi, monitored the middle line accompanied by Tamim al Balushi, Zahir al Aghbari and Yazeed al Masahni. Both Abdulaziz al Maqbali and Mohsin al Ghassani were the attackers in the front line.
After their early exit from the 2023-24 AFC Champions League preliminary round, Seeb club will return back to Muscat and start vying in the domestic competitions. The Muscat-based team will meet Ibri in the opening round of the top league at Ibri Sports Complex. Then, they will meet Al Nasr at Seeb Stadium on August 27.
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