United Arab Emirates side Al Ahli suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Lokomotiv Tashkent in a Group A AFC Champions League tie on Monday.
Lokomotiv midfielder Salamat Kutibaev scored the second fastest goal in the tournament's history as the Uzbek side picked up their first points of the 2017 campaign at the Lokomotiv Stadium.
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Following the 1-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun in the opening round of fixtures, the 2016 quarter-finalists put that behind them early on as Kutibaev headed home Marat Bikmaev’s left-wing cross in under 18 seconds. Only Sebastian Soria’s nine-second opener for Lekhwiya, also in Tashkent, against Pakhtakor at the 2013 edition betters the effort.
Al Ahli couldn't have gotten off to a worse start and struggled to find their bearings. However, they gathered themselves as the half progressed but were kept out by some excellent goalkeeping by Ignatiy Nesterov.
Then just three minutes before the hour mark, Bikmaev went from provider to goalscorer and added Lokomotiv’s all-important second, slotting past visiting custodian Majed Naser after Sardor Mirzayev’s assist.
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The visitors ended up with more shots than the victors on the day but the result sees them fall to third place in the group while Tashkent occupy second spot.
Al Ahli play Al Tawoun in their next Champions League fixture on March 13.
