Di referee wey dey handle di Asian Champions League semi-final between Machida Zelvia and Shabab Al-Ahli don dey escorted comot di pitch by police. Dis one happen after VAR decision wey cause wahala for di match.
Machida Zelvia wey dey lead 1-0 for stoppage time, and Shabab Al-Ahli think say dem don score equaliser. Guilherme Bala score fine solo goal, but referee first allow am before VAR check am and cancel am.
Di reason na say Shabab Al-Ahli restart play with throw-in while Machida still dey do substitution. Dis decision make Shabab Al-Ahli players surround referee, coach Paulo Sousa run comot tunnel before match finish, and goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali see red card after final whistle.
Referee Shaun Evans no get choice but to dey led off field with police escort. Machida wey dey play di competition for first time go face Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli for final on 25 April.
“Na goal wey dem score and dem cancel am – dis na very technical mistake by di referee,” Sousa tok. “Unfortunately dis one dey turn football into rubble. Na big mistake to choose dis referee for dis match. We deserve to dey for final and we deserve to play dis important game.”
Al-Ahli wey be di defending champions dey prepare to face Machida for final. Di Saudi side get players like Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, and Ivan Toney. But Machida coach Go Kuroda say e no fear dem.
“E no matter who we play against, we ready to play Machida Zelvia style and play with no regrets,” Kuroda tok. “Al-Ahli get plenty experience and skillful players, so we know how strong dem be. But we go play our own style and show wetin we believe for big stage.”
Machida wey dey J-League second division as recent as 2023 don reach final with strong defence. Dem no concede for any of dia last four matches for di competition. Dem don already beat Al-Ittihad for quarter-final and Shabab Al-Ahli for semi-final.
Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle tok say e know say e go tough to break Machida defence. “Machida na well-disciplined team with high work rate. Wetin dem do without possession, every player dey give top effort. E no easy to score goals against dem, dem show dat for knockout stage. Dem only concede seven goals for 12 matches overall. E go be tough match, but dis normal otherwise dem no go qualify for final.”
Jaissle also talk about Galeno wey get injury report for training. “So far e look quite good say majority of players dey on board, mentally and physically fit. Dis na special game and everyone want to dey involved. Everyone dey try for last days to dey best physical and mental shape.”
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