ACL Matchday 3: Persepolis of Iran Earns Win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Persepolis football team of Iran earned a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli on Matchday Three of AFC Champions League Group D thanks to goals from Shoja Khalilzadeh and Ali Alipour.
In the match, held at the Al Wasl Stadium, Khalilzadeh netted a spectacular volley in the 18th minute.
Two minutes later, Ahmad Nourollahi tried his luck for Persepolis from distance, but his shot missed by inches.
Al Ahli had to wait until the 34th minute to get its first chance. Djaniny received Abdulfattah Asiri’s pass and rifled from 30 yards out, but his ball went high over the crossbar.
The Saudi side came within a whisker of equalizing just before the break. Omar Al Somah volleyed following a long throw-in, and his effort was deflected by Ahmad Nourollahi onto the upright and behind.
Persepolis came racing out of the blocks in the second half and within three minutes, it had doubled its lead through Alipour.
Nourollahi failed to control a cross inside the box, but the ball fell to Alipour who converted into the net from close range to make it 2-0.
Captain Hussein Abdulghani tried his luck from well outside the box at the hour-mark, but Beiranvand was in the right place and made the save.
The Iranian side responded through Mahdi Torabi who struck from Siamak Nemati’s cross, forcing Al Owais to produce a fine reflex save, keeping Persepolis’ two-goal advantage.
Earlier in the day, Al Sadd of Qatar was held to a 2-2 draw by Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor.
With the result, Persepolis moved into second place with four points, while Al Ahli dropped to the bottom of the group ahead of the reverse fixture in Dubai on April 22.