Bonacic: We must make up for Doha debacle

AFC – KERMAN, Mes Kerman must make up for last week’s second half collapse against Al Sadd according to coach Luka Bonacic as the Iranians look to keep their bid for a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League alive on Tuesday.

Mes’ Brazilian striker Edinho (pictured) netted after 21 minutes at Sheik Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium to hand the visitors a half-time lead, but four goals in 14 minutes at the start of the second half handed Al Sadd all three points.

And should Al Sadd record a third win in Group D at Shahid Bahonar Stadium and Al Hilal down Al Ahli in Dubai, the Qatar league runners-ups will join the Saudis in qualifying for the last 16 with two games to spare.

“The least we can do is to make up for the bad result in Doha. We let slip all three points in just over 10 minutes and that was really bad,” said Bonacic.

“We played well in the first half, but the second half was totally different.

“Al Sadd have the advantage of benefiting from good players, some of them are really boosted for this game as they won the previous one with a very good result and that makes it a little difficult for us.

“But they have some weaknesses which we should use to get the result we want.”

Bonacic though has left midfielder Mahdi Rajabzadeh out of the Mes squad for disciplinary reasons.

“When a player is disobedient to his coach and is not eager to train hard you always cast him out,” added Bonacic.

“Even though he is a good player, that’s the story for him.”

Al Sadd, meanwhile, will look to build on last week’s win to push on towards the last 16 with all three points securing the all important head-to-head advantage over Mes.

“I guess the last game was a push ahead for us,” said coach Cosmin Olaroiu.

“We are in Kerman to get all the possible points.

“The last game was a game of two halves. We made a blunder in the first half and conceded the only goal as a result. But in the second half my players carried out whatever I’d told them and we won. I am hopeful they will remain as obedient as before and can perform the tactics well on the pitch.

“We’ll play to win and to reach our target in this phase which is qualifying for the next round.”