Football
2022 AFC Champions League, Group Stage
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ESPN Staff 2y

AFC Champions League: Al Shabab hit six past Mumbai City FC

Mumbai City FC suffered a heavy 0-6 defeat in their AFC Champions League Group B fixture against Saudi Arabia's Al Shabab on Friday.

With the victory, Al Shabab remained unbeaten in the campaign and are through to Round of 16 as group winners. They have 13 points from five matches with four wins and a draw. Des Buckingham's Mumbai can't make it to the next round. They are now at the bottom of their group with four points from five games. 

It was a dominating performance from the Saudi side but Mumbai started the match on a positive note, forcing goalkeeper Fawaz Al Qarni to make two outstanding saves in the 15th minute. Lalengmawia Ralte (Apuia) dispossessed defender Ahmed Sharahili and played it to Raynier Fernandes, whose effort from the edge of the box was saved by Al Qarni. The rebound fell to Apuia who hit the shot on target from a close range but Al Qarni once again denied Mumbai to take the lead.

Al Shabab created a slew of chances in the next few minutes and took the lead in the 19th minute. Mumbai lost the ball in the midfield and Nawaf Al played a nice pass to Hattan Bahebri who made no mistake in converting the chance from inside the box.

The team from Saudi Arabia doubled the lead in the 35th minute. Mumbai's Mourtada Fall tried to clear the ball from goal line after a shot from Carlos Junior but the defender ended up smashing it into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes after the half-time break, Al Shabab made it 3-0. Muteb Al Harbi's pass down the left was met by Abdullah Al Joui, who cut inside and made sure he beats Mumbai goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa. Al Joui was also involved in his team's fourth goal. He found Al Abid after a run from the left, who passed it to Bahebri inside the box and the latter scored his second goal of the night in the 64th minute.

A minute later, Bahebri completed his hat trick with a brilliant goal. He controlled Khalid Al Ghamdi's pass from the right and beat Rahul Bheke with a deft touch before finishing it on the half-volley to make it 5-0.

Bahebri then turned provider for the next goal. He advanced down the right and passed it to Junior who beat Fall and the goalkeeper to score his side's sixth of the night.

Mumbai will face Iraq's Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (Air Force Club) in their final match of the AFC Champions League campaign.

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