Al-Faisaly’s AFC Champions League Two hopes suffer blow after Al-Taawoun defeat

Al-Faisaly’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage of AFC Champions League Two were severely weakened after they lost 3-1 to Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawoun in the group stage.

The Jordanian club, managed by Tarek Mostafa, remain on three points with only two matches left to play. They are third in the group, behind Al-Rayyan on nine points and leaders Al-Taawoun, who have 10.

Al-Taawoun took the lead two minutes before half-time when Parfait Guiagon found the net in the 43rd minute.

They doubled their advantage shortly after the restart, with Moroccan forward Abdel Razek Hamdallah converting a penalty in the 48th minute.

Al-Faisaly were given a way back into the match when Al-Taawoun defender Mohammed Al-Saadi scored an own goal to reduce the deficit.

But Hamdallah restored the Saudi club’s two-goal advantage in the 70th minute, completing the scoring and securing Al-Taawoun’s victory.

The result leaves Al-Faisaly facing a difficult task in their attempt to claim one of the two qualification places for the last 16, with two group-stage games still remaining.

Mostafa’s side will next play Shabab Al-Ordon on 8 November in the Jordanian league.

Al-Faisaly currently lead the Jordanian league table after seven rounds, having collected 14 points. However, their recent form has been less consistent, with a draw and a defeat in their last two league matches.

The team’s latest results have also led to calls for the dismissal of the coaching staff led by Mostafa, despite Al-Faisaly’s position at the top of the domestic competition.