Al Nassr Beat Al Taawoun to Advance to AFC Champions League Quarter-Finals

Doha, September 27 (QNA) - Abderrazak Hamdallah's sixth goal of the 2020 AFC Champions League was enough to send Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr into the quarter-finals with a valuable 1-0 victory over compatriots Al Taawoun FC in the 16 Round on Sunday. Al Nassr were looking to make it back-to-back quarter-final appearances, while for Al Taawoun this was their first-ever AFC Champions League knock-out stage appearance. Al Nassr dominated the proceedings for the entirety of the first half, restricting Al Taawoun to a few half chances, but by the time the halftime whistle arrived, there had been no shots between the sticks on either goal at Education City Stadium. Al Nassr continued to retain the bulk of possession and Martinez came close to breaking his AFC Champions League duck, curling a 57th minute free-kick past the Al Taawoun wall, but his shot hit the side netting. Khalid Al Ghannam applied pressure on defender Ahmed Asiri, winning the ball deep inside the Al Taawoun half then moving into the penalty box. Al Ghannam looked to square for Hamdallah who had the goal at his mercy, but Yaseen Barnawi made a vital interception before the ball could reach the Moroccan striker. Al Nassr join compatriots Al Ahli Saudi FC, Pakhtakor FC of Uzbekistan and Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis FC in the quarter-finals with the draw for the West Asia matches taking place on Monday. (QNA)