Absence of Olunga felt as Duhail labour for barren draw in Champions League duel

Qatar Stars League champions Al Duhail SC felt the absence of Harambee Stars skipper Michael Olunga after battling Istiklol to a barren draw in a group E match of the AFC Champions League staged at the Respublikanskiy Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Olunga who has been a reliable goal scorer for Duhail sat out of the game. His employer didn’t provide an update on why the forward who was the tournament’s top scorer in 2021 with nine goals was overlooked in the game.

Duhail reached the semifinal of the Champions League last season.

In Armenia, Alwyn Tera was involved in Aratat Armenia’s 3-1 win over Shirak at the Gyumri City Stadium. Kenyan international Amos Nondi who is also attached to Aratat missed the game.

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Tera who was in the starting team was replaced by Nikolay Kipiani.

Aratat, had Guinea forward Mohammed Lamine to thank as his hat-trick secured maxim points for them.

Shirak got their consolation goal through Aleksa Vidic who found the back of the net in the 54th minute.

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Meanwhile, Ovella Ochieng was missing in action as Chippa United beat Richards Bay 2-1 in a South African top tier game played at the King Goodwill Stadium in Darban.

Sanele Barns scored the lone goal for Richards Bay with Elmo Kanbindu netting twice for Chippa.