ACL MD6 – Group A: Persepolis 2-1 Bunyodkor Tashkent [VIDEO]

AFC – TEHRAN, Persepolis advanced to the AFC Champions League Round of 16 as runners-up in Group A at the expense of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr after they edged out Bunyodkor 2-1 on Wednesday.

Branko Ivankovic’s side went into the game against the already eliminated Uzbek club knowing that they would need to match or better Al Nassr’s result against Qatari champions Lekhwiya to advance to the last 16 of the continental competition for the first time since 2012.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, as well as the fervent support of a packed Azadi Stadium, the Iranian side were unable to find an opening in the goalless first half.

But after Bunyodkor starlet Sardor Rashidov had cancelled out Persepolis captain Mohammad Noori’s opener from the spot early in the second half, Obid Jurabaev’s own goal on 72 minutes meant the Iranians secured second place in Group A after table-toppers Lekhwiya defeated Al Nassr 3-1 in Riyadh.

The hosts bossed the opening stages of the game but it wasn’t until just before the half hour mark when they had their first chance of note as Noori flashed a diving header narrowly wide from Fernando Gabriel’s free-kick.

Bunyodkor responded five minutes later, though, as Bosnian midfielder Samir Bekric drilled a 25-yard effort just wide of Sousha Makani’s right-hand post, before Mehdi Taremi saw his own shot from a similar range also roll the wrong side of the post at the other end of the pitch.

On the stroke of half-time the two sides exchanged chances as first Alireza Nourmohammadi headed wide from Omid Alishah’s left-wing cross and then Bekric, with the best chance of the first 45 minutes, found himself through on goal but Makani did well to charge out of goal and block his attempt.

But in the opening minutes of the restart, Persepolis took the lead as Taremi took advantage of Akmal Shorakhmedov’s slack back pass and went down under the challenge from goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhurov inside the area.

The matchwinner in their first meeting with Bunyodkor in Tashkent, Noori (pictured) stepped up to score the resulting penalty despite Zukhurov getting a hand to his shot.

Bekric almost found an instant response as the Bosnian went through on goal from Rashidov’s clever pass but after rounding Makani he was unable to turn the ball home from a tight angle.

Bunyodkor kept pushing for the equaliser, though, and just after the hour mark Uzbekistan forward Rashidov brought the scores level with a sumptuous chipped finish from just outside the area that curled over Makani.

The game’s leveller was as stunning as the way the next goal to be conceded was scrappy, albeit crucial, for scorers Persepolis.

With 18 minutes remaining, defender Jurabaev could only turn in substitute Hadi Norozi’s cross past his own keeper under pressure from Taremi inside the penalty area.

The goal’s messy fashion, though, made no difference to the massed ranks of Persepolis fans who saw their team see out the tie and book a mouth-watering meeting with Group C winners Al Hilal in a fortnight’s time in the Round of 16.