Piroozi back in the hunt for Asian glory

AFC – JEDDAH, Piroozi are hoping to end a trophy drought in Asia that extends back almost two-decades at this year’s AFC Champions League, but they face a tough opening game against Saudi giants Al Ittihad at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Wednesday.

The Iranian side were inaugural winners of the now defunct Asian Cup Winners Cup back in 1991 but have since failed to taste success outside their own country, where they are known as Perspolis.

In fact, they will be making only their third appearance in the AFC Champions League having won the Hafzi Cup last year.

Though they are one of the most popular clubs in Iran they only find themselves fifth in their domestic table, eight points behind fellow continental hopefuls Zob Ahan.

Their form in recent games though has been good and they have won four of their last five matches and will be hopeful of another good result against Al Ittihad.

The hosts, meanwhile, will not prove easy opponents and boast a wealth of experience at the tournament having appeared in six previous additions.

They have lifted the ACL trophy on two times before and will also be keen to make amends for their poor performance last year, when they failed to progress from their group following a 1-0 defeat to Zob Ahan.