Esteghlal crush Buriram hopes to go to semi-finals [VIDEO]
(13 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...AFC – BURIRAM, Coach Amir Ghalenoei revealed a half-time speech delivered during Wednesday’s AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg inspired Esteghlal to record a 2-1 comeback win over Thailand’s Buriram United as the Iran champions remained on course for a record equalling third continental title.
Esteghlal held a slender one-goal advantage from last month’s first leg in Tehran, but saw that erased after 38 minutes of the second leg at Buriram Stadium as Osmar Barba’s unmarked header levelled the last-eight tie on aggregate.
But after former Esteghlal midfielder Ghalenoei – who has won three Iranian league title while in charge of the Tehran Blues – delivered a rousing half-time address, Hanif Omranzadeh and Andranik Teymourian scored in the second half as the 1970 and 1991 Asian Club Championship winners sealed their place in next week’s semi-final.
“In the dressing room at half-time I didn’t speak about technical matters, I just provided motivation,” said Ghalenoei.
“I told the players you are Iranian and have 45 minutes and we have to show our honour as Iranians.
“We recognised some spaces on the pitch and we knew that we could score from corners. The players played very well and as I wanted as they showed their Iranian honour.”
The home side had been the more adventurous side in the first half, although Barba’s header was only Buriram’s second effort on target.
But at the start of the second half, Buriram failed to clear a Teymourian corner and defender Omranzadeh was on hand to level the tie on the night.
And with Buriram needing two goals in normal time to advance, Teymourian’s spectacular stoppage time strike capped an impressive night for the midfielder.
“In the first half our aim was not to concede, but we made a small mistake and conceded a goal,” added Ghalenoei.
“But in the second half we changed our plan and played with three strikers and we could score two goals and win the match.”
Esteghlal will now travel to Seoul for next week’s semi-final first leg after Korean champions FC Seoul earlier beat 2012 finalists Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia 1-0 to advance 2-1 on aggregate with the return fixture taking place in Tehran a week later.
“It is one of my dreams to be champion of Asian football with Esteghlal,” said former Iran coach Ghalenoei.
“We have the ability and potential to win the AFC Champions League and we believe we can.”
