«Neftchi» lost in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite

Neftchi Farg'ona OFK suffered a 1-2 defeat against Al-Ittihad in the third round of the AFC Champions League Elite. One.uz reports.

Head coach Islom Ismoilov stated that his team performed a significant amount of work and tactically left the world-class opponent with almost no opportunities. The defeat was linked to simple mistakes in the final minutes and a lack of physical strength.

Reasons for the defeat Islom Ismoilov focused on the missed opportunities and defensive lapses. The first goal resulted from the defenders failing to clear the ball, while the second was conceded in the closing minutes from a ball that was struck from a nearly impossible angle into their own net.

In the coach's view, the team deserved at least one point. Schedule load and squad issues Two heavy matches against Pakhtakor and Al-Ittihad within three days placed a significant burden on the players.

Due to injuries to Marusic and Peric, the attacking options were limited. Markus Forss applied high-intensity pressing but lacked the physical strength to sustain it.

His performance could be rated 7-8 out of 10. The opposing Danilo Luis was also a strong opponent.

Team spirit and future plans The opponent dominated ball possession but failed to create clear-cut advantages. Neftchi players demonstrated their ability to compete on equal terms with the strongest opponents.

The coach announced that the mistakes would be analyzed and preparations for upcoming matches would continue. Source: One.uz