Zob Ahan snatch point in Saudi Arabia

AFC – JEDDAH, Last year’s beaten AFC Last year’s beaten AFC Champions League finalists Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia let slip a two-goal half-time lead as Iran’s Zob Ahan fought back to earn a 2-2 draw at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Tuesday.

Enzo Trossero’s side, who were beaten 3-0 by Bunyodkor last month, appeared to be coasting at the break as Abdul-Malik Ziaya opened the scoring after just 12 minutes before Mohammed Noor added a second four minutes before half-time.

But after Fahadi Esmaeil pulled one back for Zob Ahan, who beat UAE’s Al Wahda 1-0 in their opening fixture, five minutes after the break, Mohammed Ghazi completed the comeback just two minutes later.

And with Bunyodkor beating Al Wahda 2-1 in Abu Dhabi, the Uzbekistan champions top Group B with a 100% record two points clear of unbeaten Zob Ahan with Al Ittihad third with just one point from two games.

Al Ittihad made a perfect start to the contest as Noor found Sultan Al Numari and after Zob Ahan goalkeeper Gordan Shahabaldin failed to hold his shot, Ziaya reacted the quickest to turn home the rebound.

And four minutes before the break Shahabaldin was again at fault as the custodian was unable to hold an effort from Manaf Aboshgair and Noor took his chance to double the lead.

But just four minuets after half-time Al Ittihad goalkeeper Tisuer Al Antaif continued the string of errors as the custodian attempted to intercept a cross but only managed to divert the ball to Esmaeil who found the unguarded net.

And just two minutes later Al Antaif was again to blame as the goalkeeper failed to hold Mansouri Mohammad’s free-kick from the edge of the area and Ghazi pounced.