AFC Champions League: Iran’s Esteghlal Defeats Lokomotiv
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Esteghlal football team of Iran earned a 2-0 victory over Lokomotiv of Uzbekistan in Group A of the 2017 AFC Champions League on Monday.
Farshid Esmaeili and Ali Ghorbani were on the scoresheet in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
The Uzbek team could have opened the scoring inside 20 minutes at Azadi Stadium when Sardor Mirzayev side-footed wide from a distance after a slip from goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati, before Farshid Esmaeili did break the deadlock on 37 minutes after firing low through a crowd of players from 16 yards.
With six minutes remaining, Ali Ghorbani received a long pass from Milad Zakipour and opened Ignatiy Nesterov’s goal for the second time in front of cheering fans.
The result moves Esteghlal three points clear of Lokomitiv in Group A ahead of the return fixture in Tashkent in three weeks’ time.
Eralier in the day, Iran’s Zob Ahan earned a same victory over Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in Tashkent.
