Patrick Maswanganyi enjoyed a positive moment with his new club Al Khaldiya after helping the team secure an important 2-1 comeback victory against Al-Wahda FC in the AFC Asian Champions League on Wednesday. The South African midfielder was introduced in the second half and watched his team turn the match around to collect their first victory in the competition this season.

The result was particularly important for Al Khaldiya, who had struggled to get going in their opening three group matches. The team had collected just one point from those fixtures, leaving themselves with plenty of work to do if they wanted to remain in the race for qualification to the knockout stages.

Their latest victory has given them renewed hope, especially because it came against an Al-Wahda side that had beaten them 2-1 in the reverse fixture just a week earlier.

However, Wednesday's encounter did not start well for the visitors. Al-Wahda took the lead in the 55th minute through former Premier League striker Christian Benteke, putting Al Khaldiya under pressure once again.

With the visitors needing a response, Maswanganyi was introduced from the bench after 65 minutes. The former Orlando Pirates attacker did not have to wait long before seeing his new team find an equaliser.

Just two minutes after his introduction, Mohamed Al Romaihi scored to bring Al Khaldiya back into the contest. The goal gave the visitors the confidence they needed, and they continued pushing forward in search of a winning goal.

Their efforts paid off in the 72nd minute when Saifeddine Bouhra found the back of the net to complete the turnaround and give Al Khaldiya a valuable 2-1 lead.

The visitors managed to protect their advantage until the final whistle, securing three important points away from home.

Although Maswanganyi did not start the match, his introduction came at an important stage as his team looked for a way back into the contest. His new club will be hoping that he can continue contributing as they attempt to improve their position in the competition.

The victory moves Al Khaldiya to four points from four matches in Group A. Meanwhile, Al-Wahda suffered their first defeat in the group and remain on nine points.

Al Khaldiya still have two matches remaining in the group stage, meaning their qualification hopes are not over. They will face Nasaf and Al Kuwait in their final two fixtures, knowing that positive results could give them an opportunity to reach the knockout stages.

For Maswanganyi, the victory represents an encouraging moment in his new adventure outside South Africa. After leaving Orlando Pirates for a new challenge in Bahrain, the midfielder will be eager to establish himself and become an important player for Al Khaldiya.

South African football supporters will also be interested in following his progress, especially as he looks to make his mark in Asian football. His team's comeback victory has provided a timely boost, but the remaining group matches will be crucial in determining whether Al Khaldiya can continue their continental campaign.

Source: IDiskiTimes