Gulf News- Estighlal, from Iran, came from behind to defeat Al Wahda 5-3
last night to lead the standings of the quarterfinals of the Asian Clubs
Championship, West Zone.
The match held at Al Nahyan stadium was a thriller with hosts Al Wahda
taking the lead three times before losing concentration in the last 10
minutes to squander their three points.
Hosts, Al Wahda led by their Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere adopted 4:3:1:2
formation with Ramadan Mallullah in goal. Basheer Saeed, Abdulla Salim,
Abdul Aziz Ahmed and Al Hay Jamaa in defence.
Abdul Salam Jumaa, Abdul Rahim Jamaa and Fahad Nassoud played in
midfield while Mohammed Conteh was behind the strikers, Mohammed Salim
Al Enazy and Fawzi Al Ruwaisi.
Iranian player
Ahmed Momenzadeh (front) of Esteglal club fights for the ball with
Emirati defender Fahd Massud Ali of Al-Wahdah club
The home team dominated the match despite the jaded performance of
Conteh yesterday. Abdul Salam sent a long pass behind the defence to Al
Enazy who returned to Al Ruwaisi. Al Ruwaisi was on target from inside
the penalty box, 12 minutes into the game.
Al Wahda could have scored more goals but Conteh squandered two sitters
and Al Enazy one.
Estighlal depended on their counter-attacks to reduce the pressure on
their goal. It was form such a move on the right flank that they
levelled the score by Sirus Din Mohamadi, five minutes before the break
when Basheer failed to intercept first time.
Sirus Din Mohamadi After Goal
Abdul Rahim Jumaa played brilliantly in the second half. He put the
hosts into the lead four minutes after the breather with a beautiful
volley following a combined effort from Massoud and Al Eanzy.
But Alieza Akbar soon levelled the score again for Estighlal 10 minutes
later, following a short pass from Sirus that caught Al Wahda's defence
off guard.
Abdul Rahim came again to the rescue of his team when he headed home his
team's third after Al Enazy headed back a cross from Conteh, 27 minutes
after the interval.
Faraz Fatemi
Mallullah played bravely to deny
the Iranians the equaliser. But the Iranians had a surprise up their
sleeve when they brought in Faraz Fatemi and Farzad Majidi. both were
soon in the thick of action. Farzad passed to Fakri who scored the
equaliser, 10 minutes before the end.
Three minutes later, Fatemi added the fourth with a powerful header
putting Estighlal into the lead for the first time.
Four minutes before the end, Mahdi Hashemi sealed the result scoring the
fifth goal for the Iranians. Both goals resulted following defensive
mistakes on the left flank of the home team where Ismail Rashid was
introduced, replacing Basheer.
Estighlal will meet Nasaf Karsi on Friday, while Al Wahda take on
Kuwait.
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