Al Wahda show resilience in comeback win over Nasaf

International football

·

04/11/2025

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Head coach Jose Morais expressed his satisfaction after Al Wahda FC battled from behind to secure a 2-1 victory against PFC Nasaf in the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 on Monday.

The team from the United Arab Emirates turned the game around in the second half through goals from Favour Ogbu and Caio Canedo, moving up to 10 points in the standings. Morais admitted the match was tight, saying the result reflected football’s unpredictability.

“The match was as demanding as we expected, but I’m pleased with how it ended,” said Morais. “Some might think the result was deserved, others not — that’s football. Even when we were losing 1-0, the players never lost belief.”

The Portuguese tactician credited his side’s focus in key moments, noting that two well-executed set pieces made the difference. “Our substitutes stepped up when called upon, which shows the depth and competitive mindset within our group,” he added.

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Luck finally on Al Wahda’s side

Morais acknowledged that his side had been due some fortune, suggesting that their persistence finally paid off. “Nasaf are well structured and created chances of their own, but fortune didn’t favor them this time,” he said. “Today, luck was with us — even a player who rarely scores found the net. That comes from teamwork and effort.”

The coach highlighted that the victory was the result of collective endeavor rather than individual brilliance, emphasizing how every player contributed to the turnaround.

Berdiev rues costly mistakes and fatigue

For Nasaf, the defeat marked their fourth consecutive loss in the competition, leaving them at the bottom of the West Region standings. Head coach Ruzikul Berdiev lamented his side’s inability to build on Sardorbek Bakhromov’s first-half opener in the 43rd minute.

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“We knew this would be a difficult contest,” said Berdiev. “Our players fought hard, but physical fatigue became a factor as the match went on. We lost focus in some moments and conceded twice from dead-ball situations.”

He admitted that defensive lapses were decisive, noting that his team “should have defended better” during those critical moments. “We’ll review everything carefully and correct our mistakes,” Berdiev concluded.

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