Consesao manager Jose Manuel Gomes launched a furious attack on the match officials following his side’s dramatic elimination from the AFC Champions League on Monday, February 12, 2024, insisting his team were “robbed” of a place in the quarter-finals.
The Saudi side’s continental campaign ended in heartbreak after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to Al Ain, following a 4-4 aggregate draw. The tie had finished 1-1 on the night after extra time, with Al Ain progressing 4-3 on penalties.
The flashpoint came deep into extra time. With the score level at 1-1 and the aggregate score at 4-4, Consesao thought they had won a penalty in the 119th minute when a cross appeared to strike the arm of an Al Ain defender inside the box. After a lengthy VAR review, the on-field decision was overturned and no spot-kick was awarded.
“We were robbed of a clear penalty in the final moments,” a visibly emotional Gomes stated in the post-match press conference. “The referee’s decision was a clear mistake that decided the match. We did not deserve to be eliminated from Asia in this manner.”
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Al Ain took a first-half lead through Soufiane Rahimi in the 27th minute, putting them 4-3 ahead on aggregate. Consesao fought back after the break, with Musab Al-Juwayr equalizing on the night in the 51st minute to level the tie at 4-4, forcing extra time.
Despite intense pressure from the hosts, neither side could find a winner in the additional 30 minutes, setting the stage for the controversial late incident and the subsequent shootout where Al Ain held their nerve.
Gomes concluded his remarks by questioning the officiating standard. “We are leaving a competition we dreamed of winning because of a decision that everyone saw was wrong. It is a bitter and unfair end for my players, who gave everything.”
With the defeat, Consesao’s Asian journey for the 2023-2024 season is over, while Al Ain advance to face Nasaf of Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals in March.
