ACL MD2: Foolad Khouzestan Defeats Al Fateh of Saudi Arabia [VIDEO]

AFC – AHVAZ, A penalty from captain Rahmani Bakhtiar midway through the second half secured Foolad Khouzestan only a second ever victory in the AFC Champions League as Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabian champions Al Fateh saw the Iranian side maintain their unbeaten record in Group B.

Bakhtiar confidently sent Al Fateh goalkeeper Ali Mayzadi the wrong way for the only goal of a tight contest after 68 minutes at Ghadir Stadium after Abdulaziz Bo Shaqra had handled the Foolad captain’s shot.

And with AFC Champions League debutants Al Fateh unable to find a response, Foolad were able to add to last month’s goalless draw with El Jaish to join the Qatari side three points clear at the top of Group B after all four games on Matchday One had ended goalless.

In Tashkent, Brazilian striker Nilmar scored twice as play-off qualifiers El Jaish beat two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor 2-1 at Pakhtakor Stadium.

Foolad’s only previous AFC Champions League success arrived at the start of their maiden continental campaign in 2006 as the Iranian side beat Kuwait’s Al Qadsia 6-0 before failing to advance past the group stage.

And having waited eight years to return to the AFC Champions League following last season’s fourth place finish in the Iranian league, Foolad have already bettered their 2006 points tally ahead of next week’s trip to Tashkent to face Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor.
Having suffered their first defeat of the campaign, Al Fateh will look to bounce back next week at home to El Jaish.