Piroozi 1-3 Bunyodkor [VIDEO]

AFC – TEHRAN, Bunyodkor landed a decisive blow in the battle for Group C in the 2011 AFC Champions League after downing Piroozi 3-1 at the Azadi Stadium.

With Al Ittihad favourites to clinch top spot, the race for the second qualification place was between the Uzbeks, the Iranians and Al Wahda, all locked together on two points prior to kick-off.

Anvar Rajabov put Bunyodkor in front with a thunderous finish on the hour mark before Hayrulla Karimov’s penalty nine minutes later, after substitute Alireza Mohamed had been sent off for hauling down Rajabov, doubled their advantage.

A horrible defensive mix-up allowed Shpejtim Arifi to pull a goal back with four minutes to go before keeper Ignatiy Nesterov pulled off a brilliant save to deny the same player in istoppage time. Bunyodkor immediately launched a counter-attack and Victor Karpenko scored the third goal.

The two sides had played out a goalless draw in Tashkent two weeks’ ago and for much of the contest, a repeat seemed likely.

Saman Aghazamani headed off the line following a corner after 21 minutes and Piroozi had a good chance four minutes from the break when a cross from deep was flicked on to Hadi Norozi. The forward held the ball up before laying it off to Mohammad Nori but he dragged a left-foot shot just beyond the far post.

Karpenko had a sight of goal 10 minutes into the second period following a quick free-kick but scuffed his shot wide before the game came alive on the hour mark.

Milos Trifunovic’s cross bobbled its way through to Rajabov just outside the box and the forward turned and slammed a first-time shot past keeper Alireza Haghighi into the roof of the net.

Only a desperate last-ditch challenge prevented Kamoliddin Murzoev from adding a second two minutes later before Bunyodkor did extend their lead in the 69th minute.

Azizbek Haydarov’s pass set Rajabov free down the left and as he drove into the box, the forward was pulled back by Mohamed, who was sent-off.

Haghighi managed to get his fingers to Karimov’s penalty and push it onto the post but unfortunately for the Piroozi keeper, it came back off his head and into the net.

Another forceful Rajabov run ended with the striker flashing a shot just wide as the Piroozi defence backed off before Haghighi saved Sasa Dordovic’s header.

Bunyodkor then gifted Piroozi a way back into the game with four minutes to go. An innocuous ball trickling towards the Uzbeks’ goal posed no threat but a communication mix-up between Nesterov and his defender allowed Arifi to slide in and score.

Piroozi then almost snatched a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser when a long throw was flicked on to Arifi at the back post but Nesterov produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny his header, much to boss Ali Daei’s frustration.

His anger was exacerbated seconds later when Bunyodkor immediately launched a counter-attack and with players queuing up to score, Karpenko calmly applied the finish.