Shabab Al Ahli rout Nasaf, Conceicao praises Al Ittihad after Al Shorta romp

Three first half goals helped Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE secure a 4-1 win against Uzbekistan's PFC Nasaf in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 clash on Tuesday.

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Paulo Sousa's side, who beat Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad Club on Matchday Two, moved onto seven points with Nasaf suffering a third consecutive defeat.

An entertaining start to the match produced early goals with Shabab Al Ahli the first to strike, Mersad Seifi sending Guilherme Bala through on the left in the eighth minute, whose cross was turned in by Federico Cartabia.

Nasaf didn't take long to provide a response, equalising two minutes later after Shabab Al Ahli half cleared a cross that fell to Sardorbek Bakhromov, who placed the ball with a header for Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov to curl a spectacular low shot beyond Hamad Almeqbaali.

The home side restored their lead in the 27th minute when Renan Victor powered a header towards goal from Cartabia’s inswinging free-kick, with the bouncing ball catching Nasaf goalkeeper Oleksandr Vorobei off guard as it nestled in the net.

A direct play in the 41st minute saw a perfect through ball from Saeid Ezatohali to release Matevsao, who shrugged off Shukhrat Mukhammadiev before lifting past the advancing Vorobei for Shabab Al Ahli to take a 3-1 halftime lead.