Sports > Football > DOUBLE WIN FOR IRANIAN TEAMS IN ACL BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
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Crucial champions league matches were under way this week in Europe and Asia with Iranian teams seeing off Persian Gulf rivals from Iraq and Saudi Arabia and English teams dominating the champions’ league in Europe.
Whilst English giants Manchester Utd overcame Italy’s Roma FC to setup a cracking semi-final tie against Spanish giants Barcelona, Liverpool knocked out London rivals Arsenal to progress to the other semis, Liverpool will now face another London club Chelsea, this is the third year in a row where Liverpool and Chelsea have met in UEFA Champions League Semi-final as the English domination of this tournament continues, just as in last year’s champions league three of the four teams in the Semi-finals are English.
In the mean time in the Middle East Iranian teams were in action against old Persian Gulf rivals. Sepahan FC of Esfahan took on Saudi Champions Al Ittihad, Sepahan sitting at the bottom of Group A were looking for their first points of the tournament having lost their first two matches, Ittihad on the other hand had full points from their first two matches and topped the table on 6 points, anything but a win would eliminate Sepahan from ACL.
The Iranians got off to a good start in the match and dominated the first 20 minutes but failed to score, Saudis then became more comfortable on the ball and had their own chances but Sepahan keeper Abbas Mohammadi was once again on top form and made several saves in this match before having to leave the pitch when he was injured in the second half.
Sepahan head coach Jorvan Vieira has began to stamp his authority on the team since taking over from Bonacic in February this year. A number of good results have taken Sepahan to the top of the league in Iran; the break through for Sepahan against Ittihad came in the second half with two goals in 12 minutes. Seyed Salehi who scored for Sepahan against Saudi’s Al Shabab last season scored Sepahan’s first against Al Ittihad, Hadi Aghilli who missed Team Melli’s match against Kuwait recently due to club commitment scored Sepahan’s second with a header. Ittihad pulled one back late in the game but the match ended Sepahan 2 – Al Ittihad 1. Sepahan on 3 points are still bottom of the group but they have now closed the gap on leaders to 3 points with 3 matches left.
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Iranian champions Saipa FC were in a stronger position than Sepahan with 4 points out of two matches and leading Group B on goal difference from Iraqi champions Al Quwa Al Jawiya, the match between Saipa and Jawiya was therefore a crucial tie that would give the lead in the table to the winning side. Due to security issues this match had to be played in Kuwait, Saipa were in full control of the first half and could have taken an early lead, however it was deep into injury time in the first half before Saipa took the lead through Amir Vaziri’s header, the goal could not have come at a better time for the Persians. In the second half Saipa were reduced to ten men when Majid Gholamnezhad who recently made his Team Melli debut against Kuwait was sent off for a foul on Ali Mansour. Despite that a well organised Saipa defence held on to the 1-0 lead to secure the points and give Saipa a 3 point cushion at the top of Group B.
Forthcoming ACL matches:
April 23rd - Al Ittihad (Saudi) vs. Sepahan (Iran)
April 23rd – Saipa (Iran) vs. Al Jawiya (Iraq)
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