Uzbekistan's Masharipov, Ganiev and Khamrobekov win UAE League Cup with Shabab Al Ahli

Uzbekistan's Jaloliddin Masharipov, Azizjon Ganiev and Odiljon Khamrobekov celebrated the victory as Shabab Al Ahli Dubai received a morale booster ahead of their 2021 AFC Champions League campaign after edging Al Nasr on penalties to lift the UAE League Cup on Friday.

Shabab Al Ahli nearly opened the scoring after 10 minutes but Argentine midfielder Federico Cartabia’s free-kick saw the ball rattling the crossbar.

Al Nasr suffered a blow in the 35th minute when Brazilian defender Gláuber was sent off after a foul on Shabab Al Ahli’s Igor Jesus.

Shabab Al Ahli failed to take advantage of their numerical advantage and were then reduced to 10 men when defender Mohammed Marzooq received his second yellow card in the 82nd minute.

Shabab Al Ahli, however, came out tops in the penalty shootout and will look forward to their 2021 AFC Champions League Group A campaign, with Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol first up on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC and Uzbekistan's AGMK FC complete the group.