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Gyan powers Al Ahli to Asian Champions League round of 16

The Ghana skipper took his goal scoring form when Al Ahli defeated PFC Lokomotiv 4-0 in their final group A fixture of the Asian Champions League.

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The hosts took the lead on 27 minutes when Everton Ribeiro’s free kick was missed by Lokomotiv goalkeeper Mamur Ikromov and misjudged by defender Mohammed Kone, who sent his header skywards, leaving Salmeen Khamis to nod into the empty net.

The goal was welcome in more ways than one: the hosts began the match without Makhete Diop and Ahmed Khalil, their two first-choice strikers, but nevertheless they showed a real cutting edge.

Ahli raced free from their opponents from just before the hour. On 58 minutes, Ismail Al Hammadi’s low shot cannoned off the Lokomotiv post, rebounded onto a prone Ikromov and ricocheted back into the goal.

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If that was unfortunate on the Uzbeks, Ahli’s third and fourth owed much to calculated precision from the home side. In the 72nd minute, Asamoah Gyan latched onto the impressive Saeed Abdullah’s pass and raced clear of the Lokomotiv defence, before steadying himself and lifting the ball expertly over Ikromov.

Five minutes later, Ahli’s fourth came from their fourth scorer of the night. This time, Ribeiro chipped Ikromov as well, but did so from close range, a snapshot of the Brazilian’s superb talent. Ahli had also twice struck the woodwork.

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