ACL MD4 – Group B: Al Shabab 0-3 Naft Tehran [VIDEO]

AFC – RIYADH, Three second-half goals earned Naft Tehran an impressive 3-0 win over Al Shabab to steer the Iranian side to the summit in Group B of the 2015 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

Goals from Vahid Amiri, Amir Motahhari and Reza Aliyari (pictured) in the final 33 minutes secured all three points for Naft Tehran, who move a point clear of Al Ain at the top of the group with just two matches remaining in the group stages.

Both teams went into the game needing a win, with Naft hoping to keep pace with Al Ain and Pakhtakor – who drew earlier in the day – while Al Shabab were looking for their first win of the 2015 campaign after registering two draws in their first three games.

After a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Naft came to life in the second period, hitting their hosts on the break to claim a famous victory.

Amiri started the scoring in the 57th minute, receiving the ball from Mehdi Shiri before exchanging passes with Kamal Kamyabinia and then slotting a powerful left-foot shot to the right of goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.

Al Shabab were incapable of finding a way past the Naft defence for an equaliser and, with only seven minutes remaining, the Iranian side doubled their advantage.

An individual effort from Motahhari extended Naft’s advantage as the 22-year-old striker stole the ball from Tareq Khattab before marching towards goal and unleashing a shot that Al Owais was unable to keep out, despite managing to put a hand on it.

The result was put beyond any doubt a minute into stoppage time when Iman Mobali sent in a corner than substitute Aliyari headed home, securing the win and keeping Naft on track to appear in the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League for the first time in their history.

Naft now collect seven points and lead Group B by one point from Al Ain with Pakhtakor in third place a point further back while Al Shabab are in danger of elimination with just two points from four matches.