Ebrahimzadeh braced for Steelyard heat

Zob Ahan hold a slender advantage following a 2-1 victory in last week’s first-leg of the quarter-final tie in Iran and will have striker Mohammad Reza Khalatbari available again after suspension .

Ebrahimzadeh’s side have impressed in their run to the last eight, coming through a tough group that featured last season’s finalists Al Ittihad and Asian powerhouse Bunyodkor before seeing off domestic rivals Mes in the last 16.

They also sit top of the Iran Pro League but despite their fine form, Ebrahimzadeh, pictured during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, still expects a stiff examination of their credentials by the AFC Champions League holders at the Pohang Steelyard.

“Pohang are the champions and the most powerful team in the K-League,” he said.

“I think that we are going to have a tough game tomorrow but we will do our best to get a victory with fair play, as we did at home. Fair play is the most important thing in football.”

The first game in Esfahan saw Zob Ahan come out on top as Mahdi Rajabzadeh’s 75th minute penalty settled the contest after Mota’s long-range strike had cancelled out Igor Castro’s opener.

Ebrahimzadeh conceded he did not have too much information available to him on the Koreans prior to the game and admitted he is in a similar situation when battle resumes on Wednesday.

“We are still lacking information but we have an analysis based on the first match,” he added.

“Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi does a lot of overseas trips but I did not have a chance to ask him about Pohang.”

However, Ebrahimzadeh believes his side are well prepared to face Pohang as an extended stay in Korea has allowed the players to acclimatise to conditions in East Asia.

“We arrived in Korea five days ago, so we have adapted to the environment well,” he said.

“We have no jet lag. The food and weather are also fine.”