Victories for Iran’s ACL sides

Esteghlal goalscorer Hawar Mulla MOhammed.

AFC – TEHRAN, Iran’s all the four representatives in the AFC Champions League – Sepahan, Zob Ahan, Esteghlal and Persepolis – recorded victories in the 30th round of the domestic league on Friday.

A brace from Ibrahima Toure helped ACL Group A leaders Sepahan keep their five-point lead atop the Iran League table with a 3-1 victory over Traktor. Mohsen Bengar’s 70th-minute strike was sandwiched between Toure’s double.

Esteghlal, who are second in ACL Group B and will meet Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor on Tuesday, edged past Rah Ahan 1-0 through a Hawar Mulla Mohammed strike.

Second-placed Zob Ahan took a 2-0 lead against Shahrdari, thanks to Seyed Mohamed Hosseini Farimani and Mohammad Salsali while Saeed Daghighi reduced the deficit for the losers.

Mojtaba Zare Sholi’s 22nd-minute opener for Persepolis was cancelled out by Siavash Akbarpour six minutes after the half hour mark but a stoppage time strike from Shpejtim Arifi handed them full points.

Persepolis will host Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor on Wednesday while ACL Group D leaders Zob Ahan will host Qatar’s Al Rayyan a day earlier.

Sepahan will travel to Qatar to meet Al Gharafa on Wednesday.