Foolad Omitted from AFC Champions League

Tasnim – DOHA, Iran’s Foolad football team was omitted from the 2015 AFC Champions League group stage, losing to Al Sadd of Qatar Tuesday night.

Former Guangzhou Evergrande striker Muriqui scored the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute.

Just before the hour mark, Foolad’s Ahmad Al Nameh was just off target with a well-taken free kick from 25 yards out.

Foolad went closer still in the 70th minute, only for Mohasen Mosalman’s free kick from the left to come back off the upright, denying the Iranians a goal and ensuring Al Sadd picked up all three points and progressed to the Round of 16.

Elsewhere, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia defeated Lokomotiv Tashkent of Uzbekistan 2-1 in its away game.

Al Sadd and Al Hilal advanced to the Round of 16 from Group C with 10 points, while Foolad remains rooted to the bottom of the standings with three points. Lokomotiv is in third place on four.