Sydney FC qualified for the AFC Champions League Two knockout phase after easing past Eastern SC 4-1 on Thursday night.
Anas Ouahim’s hat-trick and a goal from Patryk Klimala inspired a comprehensive win for Sydney in Hong Kong, where the Sky Blues’ progress from Group E was confirmed after leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s 1-1 draw with Kaya FC-Iloilo later in the night.
For in-form Ouahim, it was the first three-goal haul of his career.
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After scoring in the 4-2 Sydney Derby triumph last week, the German-born Moroccan broke the deadlock in the fifth minute against Eastern before former Celtic striker Klimama doubled the lead 12 minutes later.
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Ouahim added another two goals – in first-half stoppage time and just past the hour mark as he took his tally to five goals in ACL Two; only two other players have scored more than the 27-year-old this season.
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“As an attacking player you want to score goals and if you score a hat-trick, it’s very special,” he told reporters post-match.
“I’m very proud of it but it was very important to come here, to make the next step. That was the most important thing.
“If you score a hat-trick and win the game, it’s obviously a very nice day for me.”
Sydney improved to nine points in second position, four points adrift of J1 League outfit Sanfrecce with one matchday remaining.
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“The first-half performance was very good. The game was probably done in the first half with the goals we scored,” said head coach Ufuk Talay.
“Second half at times we made life difficult for ourselves with the decisions we made on the ball.
“But overall it was a game we needed to win and I think the boys did the job quite well.”
