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Duhail created their first chance of the game inside two minutes when Olunga rose the highest to meet Edmilson Junior’s cross from the corner but headed just wide with the goal at his mercy.
Al Ahli, who also had a chance to qualify had they won the match, threatened with their first chance in the 17th minute when Driss Fettouhi tested goalkeeper Salah Zakaria from range and Edmilson chose to shoot straight at Mohammed Al Owais from a tight angle when he had the option of crossing.
The two teams went into the break tied at 0-0 and on resumption, it was Duhail who continued to attack Al Ahli but they had to wait until the 61st minute when Olunga lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out and powered in a shot below the Al Ahli wall and past keeper Al Owais for the opener.
Esteghlal were the first to threaten as Ghaedi tested the goalkeeper from a narrow-angle within two minutes and Al Duhail responded through Olunga’s powerful header from Edmilson Junior’s out-swinging corner that was saved by goalkeeper Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri.
The Iranian side were then awarded a penalty after their former player Ali Karimi brought down Farshid Esmaeili inside the box, and Malian forward Diabate converted from the spot, putting them in front with his fourth goal of the campaign.
As the game was heading for half-time, Al Duhail won a penalty after Esteghlal captain Vorya Ghafouri handled Edmilson’s cross inside his own box and Olunga stepped up and powered in from the spot for his fifth goal of the 2021 competition.
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Kenya s forward Michael Olunga scored a hat-trick as Al Duhail defeated Esteghlal 4-3 in a thrilling Asian Champions League Group C match on Wednesday.
With this result, the Qatari side climbs to the top of the table, with the Iranians trailing by one point in second place.
Olunga tapped in following Mohammad Mazaheri s save from an Edmilson Junior shot in the 10th minute, to level the score.
17 minutes later, he took advantage of a blunder by Esteghlal s defense to give al Duhail the lead with a left-footed finish.
Former Mali International Cheick Diabate was quick to restore parity for the visitors by scoring from an Amir Motahari assist in the 34th minute before the Qatari club took the lead again courtesy of Abdullah Abdulsalam, two minutes to the close of the first half.