AFC Champions League QF’s – Player watch: Mehdi Taremi [VIDEO]

AFC – MUSCAT, Arguably the toughest to call of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals is the clash between Persepolis and Al Ahli, who will both be hoping their inspirational strikers can prove the difference.

Ten goals between them on the continent means Mehdi Taremi and Omar Al Soma go into the tie with the weight of expectation firmly on their shoulders.

Taremi

After signing for Persepolis in 2014, Taremi made his AFC Champions League debut the following year, scoring once as his side exited in the last 16.

Two years later and it’s a completely different story as the forward has scored more than half of Persepolis’ goals in their march to a first-ever quarter-final appearance.

The current campaign

Taremi

Taremi’s predatory instincts were at their superb best at Al Wahda on Matchday Two when the marksman bagged a brace in the final 10 minutes – a header and a volley, both from six yards out – to turn defeat into a 3-2 victory.

A return to the Gulf two weeks later saw Taremi open the scoring against Qatar’s Al Rayyan before Persepolis eventually lost 3-1.

Having failed to register a win since beating Al Wahda, it was do or die when the Tehran club hosted the Emiratis on Matchday Six.

Taremi made it 2-0 after 20 minutes but the visitors fought back to 2-2, only for the Iranian international to add two more to complete his hat-trick as Persepolis won 4-2 to progress to the knockout rounds.

Importance to the team

Taremi

Six of Persepolis’ 10 group stage goals came from Taremi, while only Chico Flores’ own-goal saw the Tehran giants past Lekhwiya in the Round of 16.

Not since Matchday One’s 1-1 draw with Al Hilal has another Persepolis player scored when Taremi has not been on target, making Taremi undoubtedly the key man.

What to expect

Taremi

Six goals puts Taremi joint second in the scoring charts, but the striker does not guarantee goals and he will want to improve a ratio of having scored in less than half of his side’s games.

And, with all of his strikes coming from well inside the penalty area, there’s firm evidence that if Taremi’s supporting cast are not on their game, Persepolis will struggle to find the back of the net.