Perreria proud as Shabab pass toughest test
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Loading...AFC – RIYADH, Al Shabab coach Edgar Perreria felt his side overcame their most difficult challenge in the AFC Champions League so far as the Saudis came out on top of a thrilling encounter with Esteghlal 3-2 at the King Fahd International Stadium on Tuesday.
The start of the match belied what was to come with neither side able to fashion any chances but when the first did arrive in the 23rd minute, it also resulted in the opening goal.
Faisal Al Sultan shrugged off the challenge of a defender before rifling a shot into the back of the net from close range.
However, that lead lasted less than a minute as Esteghlal equalised through a Siavash Akbarpour penalty before the Iranians took the lead after 32 minutes when Hossein Kazemi struck.
Tarik El Taib brought Al Shabab level three minutes into the second half and just as the game looked set for extra time, substitute Waleed Al Gizani grabbed the winner in the last minute of normal time.
“I am excited to see my team in the quarter-finals of this great and competition,” said Perreira.
“We have worked hard to reach this level.
“The match was really tough. It is the hardest encounter Al Shabab have played so for in the Asian Champions League. My players were great and worked hard to get the win.”
Perreira also reserved praise for the performance of Esteghlal but felt the substitutions he made in the second half proved pivotal.
“The Iranian team were excellent,” he added.
They have great players who could win any match. They are physically and technically excellent.
“Our replacements in the second half of the match made the difference. They were behind the victory we got tonight. After they came on the performance of my team improved.”
Esteghlal coach Samad Marfavi felt the match was a great advert for Asian football and praised the application of his players throughout despite the defeat.
“It was such a great and interesting match on all levels; tactics, chances and goals,” he said.
“I would like to congratulate Al Shabab for their victory. In fact, we performed well and I think we were better than Al Shabab in many periods of the match, but it was an unexpected goal that meant we lost the match.
“All my players performed greatly and controlled the play and we could have won the match. Although Al Shabab’s third goal came at a crucial time, my players did not surrender but time could not help us out.”
