Pakhtakor snatch late draw against Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadsiah

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent’s Pakhtakor drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadsiah in the second round of the league stage of the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Elite. Dostonbek Khamdamov equalised from the penalty spot in the 89th minute, extending the Uzbek club’s unbeaten run in the tournament.

The visitors took the lead in the 35th minute. Tijjani Reijnders, who previously played for Manchester City, finished off an Al Qadsiah attack with a precise shot after receiving a pass from Christopher Bonsu Baah.

Late in the match, Pakhtakor had a chance to level the score. After reviewing a video replay at the touchline monitor, referee Choi Hyeon-jae awarded a penalty for handball by substitute Yasser Al-Shahrani. Khamdamov confidently converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.

The Tashkent side started brightly and created several dangerous chances against Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels. In the 15th minute, Brazilian forward Flamarion failed to connect with Bashar Rasan’s cross from the left edge of the penalty area, with the ball going just wide of the post. Soon afterwards, Khodjiakbar Alijonov shot from the edge of the box, but Casteels dealt with the effort comfortably.

In the 21st minute, Al Qadsiah’s goalkeeper came to his team’s rescue again. After Sherzod Nasrullaev’s run down the left flank, Flamarion received a cutback and shot from close range, but Casteels made the save. From the resulting corner, Morteza Pouraliganji headed over the crossbar.

Al Qadsiah gradually took control of the match. In the 26th minute, Julian Quinones found the net for the visitors, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Vladimir Nazarov then saved a header from Mateo Retegui, but Al Qadsiah eventually broke through in the 35th minute. Bonsu Baah advanced along the left side of the penalty area and squared the ball for Reijnders, who fired it into the net.

After the break, Quinones missed two opportunities to extend Al Qadsiah’s lead. Pakhtakor continued to search for an equaliser: in the 61st minute, Akmal Mozgovoy finished an attack with an inaccurate shot, while Casteels later dived to his right to save a powerful long-range effort from Abdurauf Boriev.

The decisive moment came in the 89th minute, when Al-Shahrani handled the ball following a cross from the left flank. A video review led to a penalty, which Khamdamov converted to earn the Tashkent side a draw.

In their opening league-stage match, Pakhtakor also drew, against reigning champions Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia. After two rounds, the Tashkent club remain unbeaten in the competition.