Sepahan 3-1 Bunyodkor [VIDEO]

Having already clinched the Iran Pro League crown, Amir Ghalenoei’s side turned in another impressive throughout to outclass their Uzbek visitors, although they played the majority of the second-half with 10 men after Ibrahima Toure had needlessly got himself sent-off.

Fabio Januario put Sepahan ahead in the first-half and Toure did brilliantly to make it 2-0. Slavoljub Djordjevic pulled one back for Bunyodkor but their comeback was ended though when Hadi Aghily kept his cool to make it 3-1 from the penalty spot.

Bunyodkor reached this stage thanks to the kind of form which saw them overcome the likes of Piroozi but this encounter was always likely to represent a different kind of test due to Sepahan’s recent strong form.

Indeed, Sepahan navigated their way around Bunyodkor’s counter-attacking tactics well having previously watching the Uzbek outfit out-manoeuvre their Iran Pro League compatriots.

Bunyodkor started well but the Iranian outfit were up for the challenge, pressing the visitors at the earliest opportunity and stretching them when they had the ball themselves.

The game plan paid off as Januario took advantage of the space created to rifle home a 30-yard shot with plenty of movement that left keeper Ignatiy Nesterov flat-footed.

Bunyodkor struggled to recover as Sepahan pushed for a second and it came when Toure ran onto a through ball and lifted a sublime finish over the on-rushing Nesterov from a narrow angle.

The second-half began in disastrous fashion for Sepahan when Toure was sent off following a rush of blood to the head.

The striker found himself in amongst the wall after his side won a free-kick and amid some jostling, lashed out at Anvarjon Soliev and caught the midfielder in the face. He was immediately red-carded and it proved costly as five minutes, later it was 2-1.

Victor Karpenko delivered an inswinging cross from a short corner and Djordjevic headed home from eight yards.

But Bunyodkor’s hopes of a comeback were effectively dashed in the 69th minute, however, when Sepahan claimed their third goal.

Djordjevic pulled back Milorad Janjus inside the box as the pair chased down a long ball and was fortunate to escape with just a booking.

Aghily smashed the resulting penalty into the top corner to send the Iranians through to the last eight.