Al Ahli, Al Ittihad held to late draws in AFC opener
Al Burakain's stoppage-time strike rescued Al Ahli against Pakhtakor, while Wijnaldum's 90+4 equaliser saved Al Ittihad at Shamal in the Champions League Elite.
Al Ittihad and Al Ahli both dropped points on the opening night of the AFC Champions League Elite, each held to a 1-1 draw away and at home respectively.
Al Ahli, the two-time defending champions, needed a stoppage-time goal from Al Burakain to salvage a point at home against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor. It came in the 90+3rd minute. The winger has scored twice since joining Al-Ahli Saudi in August.
Pakhtakor sit second in the Uzbek Super League, on 46 points from 21 matches, with Dostonbek Khamdamov their leading scorer on eight goals this season.
Al Ittihad fared no better away to Qatar's Shamal, trailing for most of the match before Wijnaldum, their newest addition, equalised in the 90+4th minute. Danilo Pereira started and wore the captain's armband for the visitors. The Portugal defender has four goals for Al-Ittihad since arriving in February. Tiago Silva, formerly of V. Guimaraes, started for Shamal.
Rui Vitória's night went worse still.
Three Portuguese-linked sides in Asian competition, three results without a win, leaves each of Al Ahli, Al Ittihad and Al Wasl needing a response when the group phase resumes.
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