Sports > Football > SEPAHAN WIN HAZFI CUP TO QUALIFY FOR ACL 2007/08 BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
Sepahan's Fourth ACL Appearance In Five Years
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Sepahan of Esfahan have won Iran’s Hazfi Cup (a knock-out football competition) for the second year in succession and qualified for Asian Champions League (ACL) 2007/2008. This will be Sepahan’s fourth appearance in ACL in five years which is a record for an Iranian club since ACL competition began in season 2002/2003 replacing the former Asian Super Cup. The winner of Persian Gulf League and Hazfi Cup represent Iran in ACL.
Sepahan grew in confidence and strength as the season unfolded in Iran this season, they finished fifth in the league and beat Saba Battery at home and away in Hazfi Cup final to lift the trophy for the second year in a row, Sepahan beat Tehran giants Persepolis FC 4-1 in the semi final.
Having beaten Saba Battery in the away fixture 1-0 Sepahan only needed a draw in the return leg to win Hazfi Cup. Saba Battery started the game the stronger side and came close to scoring through a Bakhtiyarizadeh free kick from well outside of the penalty box, but ten minutes into the first half Sepahan took the initiative and pushed Saba back. Sepahan were rewarded for their efforts in 44th minute when striker Mahmoud Karimi scored the opener at Esfahan’s Naghsheh Jahan stadium.
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The second half was all Sepahan as they played a nice flowing game and killed the tie off with two goals by Ebrahim Lovynian and the 18 year old Hossein Papi, the match ended Sepahan 3 – Saba Battery 0. Sepahan also made history this season by qualifying for ACL quarter finals, Sepahan will meet Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in the first leg of their quarter final tie on September 19th 2007, the return leg will be played in Japan the following week on September 26th.
Sepahan can still make more history in ACL; should the Esfahani side win ACL title they would earn Iran a third spot in next season’s ACL competition. As things stand Saipa of Karaj and Sepahan of Esfahan will represent Iran in 2007/2008 ACL, should Sepahan win ACL this year they will gain an automatic place in next season’s ACL as defending champions, this would mean a third ACL spot for Iran, Hazfi Cup runner-ups Saba Battery would then qualify for next seaoson’s ACL. It should be noted that earlier this year Iran faced losing one of their two automatic ACL spots unless their sole representative Sepahan FC managed to qualify for the knock-out stage of the tournament which Sepahan secured in style by winning Group D qualifiers. Sadly Esteghlal FC were disqualified from this season’s ACL due to management incompetence.
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We wish Sepahan all the best in Asia and will be monitoring their progress.
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