Al Sadd coach Javi Gracia expressed his disappointment after his side lost 2-1 against Saudi side Al Faisaly in the second round of the AFC Champions League Group E match.
The 2011 champions Al Sadd SC suffered a shock 2-1 loss in the hands of Al Faisaly FC at the Prince Mohamed Bin Fahd Stadium, on Monday.
It was the Saudi team's first-ever win in the AFC Champions League.
Al Sadd had initially taken a fourth minute through Hassan Al Haydos, but Al Faisaly drew level with Hicham Faik finding the back of the net in the 16th minute, with Julio Tavares scoring the eventual winner in the 53rd minute.
The Saudi side had already picked up their first point, drawing Al Wehdat 1-1 on their continental debut, and set on to add to it in front of their home fans.
“We are really disappointed because we worked really hard,” said Garcia.
“We started well and scored an early goal then we conceded from their first chance. There were some moments in the beginning where we had control of the game, but then we lost it a bit."
“First goal was a good cross and a goal header, the second goal was a long ball and we knew before the game it was one of their best skills, long balls looking for Tavares, Boyle ready for the second ball. Tavares controlled well and scored,"Gracia said.
“For sure, we have no other option but to keep working hard, to play better the next game and try to achieve our objective which is to be in the next round," he said.
Al Sadd wasted no time in taking the lead after club captain Al Haydos embarked on a run down the left, exchanging passes with Akram Afif then keeping his composure to slot the ball into the far corner just four minutes into the game.
Al Faisaly responded in the 17th minute through Faik who rose highest to head home Martin Boyle’s pinpoint cross for his second goal of the AFC Champions League.
Eight minutes after the restart, it was the Saudi side that took the lead after Faik turned from scorer to provider, sending a fine long ball to Tavares and the Cape Verdean forward outmuscled his marker and slotted home Al Faisaly’s second goal of the night.
Through a combination of resilient defending and heroic goalkeeping in the final minutes, Al Faisaly weathered the storm until the final whistle, walking away with the win to reach four points that leave them joint top of Group E alongside FC Nasaf whom they face in the next game while Al Sadd play Al Wehdat of Jordan with both sides having one point to their name.
