AFC: Esteghlal Khuzestan edges Al Fateh of Saudi Arabia [VIDEO]
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Loading...Tasnim – MUSCAT, Esteghlal Khuzestan from Iran beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Fateh on Tuesday in Group B of the AFC Champions League.
Abolfazl Alaii scored in the 80th minute with a header to ensure Iranian champions Esteghlal Khouzestan took all three points in the 2017 AFC Champions League opener at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.
The continental debutants from Ahvaz were on top for much of the tie but could not find the breakthrough until 10 minutes from time when defender Alaii rose highest to nod home Peyman Shirzadi’s inswinging corner at the back post.
Alaii won Man of the Match award at the end of the match.
“I would like to dedicate the victory to Khuzestan’s people. We are proud of the valuable win and it was a great step toward the AFC Champions League qualification,” Esteghlal Khuzestan coach Sirous Pourmousavi said.
“Al Fateh are a great team and were more experienced than us,” he added.
Al Fateh, who are making their second appearance in the competition after 2014, see their winless run in the AFC Champions League stretch to seven games after they failed to pick up a victory in their inaugural campaign.
