Persepolis’ Mensha rues injuries, suspensions

AFC – ABU DHABI, Nigerian forward Godwin Mensha bemoaned the absences of key individuals that hamstrung Persepolis in their 4-0 defeat by Al Hilal on Tuesday.
Among those unavailable for selection for the Iranian club were leading scorer Mehdi Taremi, midfielder Kamal Kamyabinia and defender Mohammad Ansari.

With the spine of the side removed, the Iran Pro League champions had no answers for a stunning performance from Al Hilal that saw Omar Khribin net a hat-trick and Yasir Al Shahrani strike in a magnificent four-goal triumph.

“It was a difficult game for us because the team was weakened due to injuries and suspensions, but we tried to do our best,” said Mensha, who joined Persepolis in the summer.

“We tried to react when the first goal was scored but got hit with a second, and we ended up getting caught in a downward spiral.”

Persepolis are already in uncharted territory having never progressed further than the Round of 16 but, having confidently dispatched another Saudi side Al Ahli in the quarter-finals, will have been disappointed with the result in their first semi-final tie.

Nevertheless, Mensha is adamant that things are not done and dusted yet with the return leg in Muscat three weeks’ away.

“This was not our final game, we still have another match in Oman and we will do our best,” he added.

“The next game we obviously have to improve, play better and play stronger to get a better result. At the very least we need a positive result.”