Sepahan 5-1 Al Jazira [VIDEO]

AFC – ESFAHAN, Sepahan made it two wins from as many games to start their AFC Champions League campaign with a comfortable home win over Al Jazira.

Ahmad Jamshidian scored a first-half double and while Al Jazira striker Bare (Jader Volnei Spindler) pulled a goal back shortly after the break, further strikes from Ibrahim Toure, Janjus Milorad and Javad Kazemian ensured an easy win.

It was no more than the Iranians deserved and sent them clear at the top of Group A having already overcome Saudi Arabian heavyweights Al Hilal on their own turf last time out.

Sepahan forged ahead after just three minutes when Omid Ebrahimi crossed the ball from the right and Jamshidian headed home despite the attention of a couple of the visiting defenders.

Sepahan completely controlled the game throughout and they doubled their advantage in the 24th minute when Jamshidian’s strong shot found the back of the net.

Four minutes later Al Jazira could have pulled a goal back only for Sepahan goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati to stretch himself and claw away Ricardo Olivieira’s shot from a tight angle.

It was a rare chance for the UAE club as they were forced to call on all their defensive resolve to keep the score at 2-0 going into half-time.

Sepahan quickly re-established their attacking threat in the second period although Rahmati had to make a sharp save to deny a powerful effort from Subait Khater.

Al Jazira did pull a goal back on 53 minutes when former Gamba Oasaka striker Bare met a left-sided cross from Saleh Obaid to keep his side’s hopes alive.

However, Sepahan restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later with Jamshidian this time the architect as he teed up Toure to score with a long searching pass.

Sepahan were back in control and had a fourth goal in the 64th minute when the Al Jazira defence could only re-direct a probing Toure pass into the path of Milorad and the Serbian striker swept home with his right foot.

With time ticking down the hosts added a fifth goal when Kazemian ran onto a long pass from Reza Enayati before side-stepping the away goalkeeper and tapping in.