Michael Olunga’s brace helped Al Duhail to a 2-0 win over Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol in the fifth round (Group E) of 2023-2024 AFC Champions League at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha on Monday.

The goals were scored in the 48th and 90 minutes as Al Duhail increased their points tally to four and moved to third in the group, while Istiklol, who are on two points, dropped to the bottom.

Al Duhail were in search of an early goal from the blast of the opening whistle, with The Red Knights pressing hard on the visitors with waves of relentless attacks.

Olunga almost secured an early goal for his team in the sixth minute after Isaac Lihadji tried to slide a through ball to him in Istiklol’s 18-yard box, but the Kenyan international was caught offside.

Almoez Ali was the recipient of another Lihadji assist in the 13th minute, but his header from the centre of the box missed to the left.

Al Duhail had a penalty call in the 30th minute after Istiklol’s Cedric Gogoua roughly tackled Olunga in the 18-yard box, but the call was overruled after a lengthy VAR check.

Chances swung back and forth between both sides as the match wore on in the first half, but none were converted before heading for the dugout at half-time.

Shervoni Mabatshoev replaced Senin Sebai for Istiklol at half-time in a bid to spice up their attack, but despite the change, it was Al Duhail’s Olunga who opened the scoring two minutes into the second half with a fine-placed header from the centre of the box that found its way into the bottom left corner of the visitors’ goal.

Olunga almost got his brace of the night, three minutes after the goal, only for him to be flagged offside with just Istiklol’s goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov to beat after a through ball from Yousef Ayman.

After several attempts and denials, Olunga finally got his brace in the last minute of normal time via another superb header to extend Al Duhail’s lead following a well-timed cross from Ismail Mohammed.

Al Duhail were reduced to 10 men three minutes into injury time after Ruben Semedo’s initial yellow card for a foul was upgraded to red after a VAR check.

The deficit notwithstanding, Al Duhail held on for the much-deserved victory.