Mixed results for Iran’s ACL representatives
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Loading...AFC – TEHRAN, The three Iranian clubs who had direct entries into the 2015 AFC Champions League had mixed results in their final domestic fixtures on Thursday prior to kicking-off their respective ACL group stage campaigns next week.
Tractorsazi Tabriz enjoyed a 2-1 away win at Naft Masjed Soleyman, Persepolis played out a goalless draw with Saba Qom while Foolad Khouzestan went down to their second straight defeat, with the Iranian champions slipping to a 3-1 loss at Saipa.
Tractorszai geared up for their 2015 AFC Champions League Group D opener against Nasaf on Wednesday by coming from a goal down to defeat last season’s Azadegan League champions Naft Masjed Soleyman.
Hamid Bou Hamdan, who is on loan from a Naft Tehran side that also successfully negotiated the 2015 ACL Play-offs, opened the scoring with an 11th minute penalty before Saman Nariman Jaman got his second goal in as many games after following up his strike in Tractorsazi’s 3-2 win over Saba Qom with the equaliser at the Behnam Mohammadi Stadium with 12 minutes of the first half remaining.
Brazilian striker Edinho, who was also on target in last week’s win over Saba, took his tally for the season to 11 when the former Mes Kerman forward fired home the 83rd winner, propelling Tractorsazi to second in the league table, one point behind leaders Naft Tehran and one more than third-placed Esteghlal who have a game in hand over the top two.
Reigning champions Foolad, meanwhile, remain on 37 points alongside Esteghlal and Sepahan after missing another opportunity to replace Naft in pole position after going down 3-1 away to mid-table Saipa on Thursday.
Midfielder Roozbeh Shahalidoost put the home side a goal to the good two minutes from the interval before Hamed Shiri doubled Saipa’s advantage just before the hour mark.
Cameroon forward Aloys Nong reduced the deficit with 15 minutes to play but just six minutes later defender Mohsen Azrani restored Saipa’s two-goal cushion with the goal that sealed Foolad’s second straight domestic defeat following last week’s 1-0 loss to 2007 ACL runners-up Sepahan.
Foolad will be looking to find the winning formula when they host 2011 continental club champions Al Sadd in their opening match in Group C of this year’s ACL on Wednesday.
Persepolis, meanwhile, had to settle for a share of the spoils after the Tehran giants were held to a goalless draw at home by Saba Qom in their last match before they mark their return to Asian club football’s premier competition for the first time since 2012 when they host Qatar champions Lekhwiya on the same day Foolad face Al Sadd.
