Al Wakrah lost 0-3 to Iran’s Tractor FC in their opening match of 2024-2025 season AFC Champions League Two campaign in Group A at the Al Janoub Stadium on Wednesday.

First-half goals from Tomislav Strkalj (13th minute), Mehdi Torabi (16th minute) and Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (38th minute) secured the victory for the visitors against Al Wakrah, who are back in the Asian competition for the first time since the Asian Club Championship in 2001 and 2002.

The hosts were put under pressure by the visiting Iranian side right from the blast of the opening whistle with an Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh right-footed shot from outside the box, following Ricardo Alves’ sublime pass, almost finding the bottom-left corner of Al Wakrah’s net if not for the quick intervention of goalkeeper Mohammed Al Bakri, who saved the goal-bound attempt.

With The Blue Wave majorly forced to be on the defence as the game wore on, it was therefore not surprising that Tractor FC got their opening goal in the 13th minute, with  Strkalj firing home from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner to the consternation of Al Wakrah's fans and bench.

Within three minutes of the first goal, Mohammad Naderi was on hand to give a headed pass to Torabi, who wasted no time in finding the net with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box that sailed straight to the bottom left corner to double the lead for Tractor FC.

Jolted by the two goals within three minutes, Al Wakrah gradually began to assert themselves into the game and Nabil Erfan almost reduced the deficit in the 36th minute, but his right-footed shot from outside the box, though quite close, went just inches to the right.

While Al Wakrah missed, Tractor FC, on the other hand, stunningly hit the bullseye again two minutes later, with Hosseinzadeh also registering his name on the scorers’ sheet from the left side of the six yard box, to arguably seal Al Wakrah’s fate on the night.

Despite Al Wakrah’s attempt at getting something out of the first half, the visitors’defence, however, stood their ground and maintained their lead going into the second half.

There was not much difference in Al Wakrah’s movements going forward in the second half as they were curtailed, despite some opportunities, by Tractor FC. But in contrast, their defence seemed to be more compact and tighter, restricting any unwanted foray into their last third by their opponents.

Al Wakrah were guilty of missing some good opportunities that would have reduced the deficit as the clock ticked down, but in the end, Tractor FC maintained their win and a solid start to the tournament, while Al Wakrah, who will next be away to Tajikistan’s FC Ravshan on October 2, look forward to a better outing in the tournament.