Olivera Lauds Tractorsazi’s Organization Against Al Ahli

the-AFC.com – TABRIZ, Coach Antonio Oliveira lauded his Tractorsazi Tabriz side’s improved organisation after they recorded their first points of their AFC Champions League campaign with a hard fought 1-0 victory over Emirati champions Al Ahli at the Yadegar Emam Stadium on Wednesday.

A goal five minutes before the interval by forward Farshad Amhadzadeh was enough to get Oliveira’s team off the mark in Group D after they suffered a 2-1 reversal at Nasaf of Uzbekistan on Matchday One.

And despite some mistakes, Oliveira believed his side controlled the majority of what was a tactical game as they made it three points from two matches in Group D.

“Today we kept the organisation much better than we did against Nasaf in Uzbekistan. We saw a highly tactical game and there were of course some mistakes, but anyway we had almost the entire game under our control,” said Oliveira, whose side will travel to Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia on Matchday Three in two weeks’ time.

“Compared to our first match played in the AFC Champions League against Al Jazira from the United Arab Emirates two years ago our team has only retained two players – that means most of my players do not have much experience for playing in the continental showdown.

“In the second period they had one good chance but our goalie saved it well. It was kind of difficult for us to move the ball from where they pressed us. We do need more possession and more circulation of the ball in the field.”

Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu, whose side now have just one point from two games after their 3-3 draw at home to namesakes Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia last time out, thought that his players created enough chances to win the game but conceded that they gave away possession too easily.

“We didn’t deserve to lose the game; it was a difficult match and the Iranian team we played against was very strong,” said Olaroiu, whose side will next host Nasaf on 18 March.

“The atmosphere in the stadium made it difficult for us to play, however the opportunities we made outnumbered the chances made by the home side.

“We did our best in this tough situation. We lost the ball in the important areas of the field and that was where they took advantage from, but we still have chances to go to the next round.”