Sepahan confident of good showing
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AFC – KUALA LUMPUR, AFC Champions League 2007 finalists Sepahan of Iran lost no time in declaring their readiness to do battle with Al Sadd after being drawn with the Qatari giants in the quarter-finals of the continental showcase on Tuesday. Sepahan will host the first leg at the Fooladshahr Stadium in Isfahan on 14 September before travelling to Doha for the return leg on 28 September.
“It was a good draw and we were hoping to meet Al Sadd,” said Sepahan manager Majid Basirat.
The Sepahan official also stressed that the short distance between Isfahan and Doha would prove to be a distinct advantage for the eventual winners when it came to the semifinals.
“The distance is short and the time difference is the same. This will definitely help the winners in the next stage,” said Basirat.
With the chances of an all-Iranian semifinal clash between Sepahan and their next door neighbours and fellow quarter-final qualifiers Zob Ahan gaining strength, Basirat said the battle lines between the two Esfahan sides would remain drawn until after the semi-finals when the fans of both sides would join hands to cheer the Iranian representative left standing.
“Yes…we expect them to support us and the other way round but until the semifinals we will be rivals,” said Basirat.
Sepahan reached the final in 2007 before succumbing to Japan’s Urawa Reds in a memorable two-leg encounter and Basirat was hopeful that they would be able to cross the final barrier now.
“We will do our best to win (the title) this time,” said Basirat. “I hope it will be either us or Zob Ahan.”
