Sports > Football > SEPAHAN KICK-OFF ACL WITH A WIN BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
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Iran’s sole representative in the Asian Champions League (ACL) got off to a winning start by beating Syria’s Al Ittihad 2-1 in Esfahan on Wednesday March 7th. Sepahan took the initiative from the start and went on the attack, they came close to scoring early in the match but it was Al Ittihad that opened the scoring against the run of play in the 12th minute when a corner kick headed towards Sepahan’s goal was deflected into the goal leaving the keeper Petrossian helpless, but Petrossian did well in this match and could not have done much about this deflected goal.
This is Sepahan’s third appearance in ACL in four years so they have gained a bit of experience of playing in ACL in recent years, the experience told as Sepahan continued to play their game and drew level seven minutes later, the goal was scored by the captain Mohammad Salehi, he added a second ten minutes later to give Sepahan a 2-1 lead after 29 minutes. Salehi who has not scored a single goal in the Iranian league this season will be pleased to have scored twice against the Syrians in this match. There were to be no more goals in this match but both sides had chances to score.
Sepahan will be pleased to have started their ACL campaign with a win against Al Ittihad that are currently leading Syria’s league table, Sepahan lie sixth in the Iranian league 12 points behind table toppers Saipa. The real threat to Sepahan though comes from Saudi champions Al Shabab that beat UAE’s Al Ain 2-0 on the same day. Sepahan will play Al Shabab in their next match away in Saudi Arabia on March 21st (which happens to be the Iranian New Year’s day). If Sepahan are to have any chance of progressing to the quarter final stage then they must avoid defeat to Al Shabab this month, a draw with Shabab on Saudi soil would be a good result for Sepahan with the aim of beating the Saudis in Esfahan in the return leg on May 23rd. I have to say based on Sepahan’s match against Ittihad both sides would have to improve their game if they are to win Group D.
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With only the group winners qualifying to the quarter finals competition is fierce in the group stages; Sepahan’s other opponent Al Ain are no push over either (Sepahan will play Al Ain on April 11th), Al Ain won ACL in season 2002/2003 and have been a serious contender in this tournament ever since, Sepahan have therefore got their work cut out for them, with the current Iranian league champions Esteghlal FC disqualified from ACL due to management incompetence Sepahan carry Iran’s only hope in the tournament. With one match played Al Shabab lead the group on goal difference from Sepahan with both sides on 3 points. We wish Sepahan all the best in ACL; I will be monitoring their progress.
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