Zob Ahan’s Tough Task against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Zob Ahan, who had been unbeaten for six games ahead of their defeat in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16, must beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on Monday if it is to advance to the quarter-finals for only the second time since 2011.
The Iranian team lost to Al Ittihad 2-1 last week in the first leg of the Round of 16.
Goals from Luis Jimenez and Ziyad Al Sahafi either side of the half-time break overturned Ghasem Hadadifar’s early goal for Zobahan, earning Al Ittihad an important win.
Now, Jose Luis Sierra’s men will aim to complete the job and set up an all-Saudi quarter-final clash with the winner between rivals Al Hilal and Al Ahli.
Alireza Mansourian’s side has reached the AFC Champions League knockout stage three times in the past four years, but with both its two previous appearances ending in the Round of 16, it will be eager to go one step further before thinking of repeating its runner-up finish from 2010.
Two-time champion Al Ittihad, on the other side, has been away from competing at the business end of the AFC Champions League for a few years, its last quarter-final appearance dating back to 2014.
So, Monday’s match offers an opportunity for Sierra to bring them back to the forefront again.
