CRUNCH TIME LOOMS FOR AFC CUP 2017 WEST ZONE HOPEFULS

Kuala Lumpur: Seven teams in the 2017 AFC Cup West Zone will battle it out for four Zonal Semi-final places with top spot in Groups A, B and C still up for grabs as well as the best-placed runner-up spot.

Group C will take centre stage on Monday, before Groups A and B return to action a day later in what promises to be an action-packed two nights of drama on the continent.

Group C

Table-toppers Al Muharraq of Bahrain travel to Jordan’s Al Wehdat on Monday leading their opponents by a point and in the knowledge that they will secure top spot should they avoid defeat.

Al Wehdat would win the group with a victory, but anything else would leave finishing in the highest runner-up spot dependent on other results. Sayed Jaafar returns from suspension for the visitors, who have Mahdi Ali and Ismaeel Abdullatif out after bookings on Matchday Five.

Elsewhere, Oman’s Saham and Nejmeh of Lebanon will look to avoid finishing bottom in the standings when they face off in Muscat after having their eliminations confirmed two weeks ago. 

Moatasem Al Shibli and Abdoulaye Dieng are suspended for the hosts who have Musaab Al Sharqi available once more, while Nejmeh welcome back Ahmad Taktouk.

Al Wehdat (JOR) v Al Muharraq (BHR)
Venue: King Abdullah II International Stadium, Amman
Kick-off: May 1, 18:00 UTC+3

Saham Club (OMA) v Nejmeh SC (LIB)
Venue: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Kick-off: May 1, 19:00 UTC+4

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Group A

Iraq’s Al Zawraa host Jordan’s Al Ahli on Tuesday needing to avoid defeat to advance to the Zonal Semi-finals as Group A winners, although a loss would see Syria’s Al Jaish leapfrog them with a win over Oman’s Al Suwaiq.

Al Zawraa have won three on the bounce and look favourites to top the standings but are without the suspended Ali Raheem, while Al Ahli are already eliminated and have Yazan Dahshan and Ahmad Al Sughair suspended.

Al Jaish’s back-to-back defeats to Al Zawraa on Matchdays Three and Four makes finishing as group winners a tough ask but a win would take them to 12 points and tie up the best runner-up spot should Al Zawraa top the table. The Syrian side will, however, be without the suspended Hussain Al Shouaeeb.

Al Zawraa (IRQ) v Al Ahli (JOR)
Venue: Grand Hamad Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: May 2, 18:00 UTC+3

Al Jaish (SYR) v Al Suwaiq (OMA)
Venue: Al-Khor SC Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: May 2, 18:00 UTC+3

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Group B

Three does not go into two in Group B, where just one point separates the top three teams as the current top two – second-placed Al Hidd and top side Air Force Club – face off in Manama and third-placed Al Wahda travel to already eliminated Safa.

Bahrain’s Al Hidd have won three in a row and will win the group should they defeat holders Air Force Club at home, although anything less than three points and they could finish in third place. The Iraqi side, meanwhile, will claim top spot with victory and at least second place with a draw.

Al Wahda sit third but ready to pounce as, with the top two facing off, victory over Lebanon’s Safa, who have Kassem Leila suspended, guarantees the Syrian side at least second place. A win, coupled with a draw between Al Hidd and Air Force Club, and Al Wahda finish as group winners.

Al Hidd (BHR) v Air Force Club (IRQ)
Venue: Bahrain National Stadium, Manama
Kick-off: May 2, 18:00 UTC+3

Safa SC (LIB) v Al Wahda (SYR)
Venue: Sports City Stadium, Beirut
Kick-off: May 2, 15:15 UTC+3