Persepolis deserved win against Lekhwiya: Branko Ivankovic
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Loading...Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says that they deserved to qualify for the AFC Champions League quarter-final.
The Iranian football team progressed to the quarters after a Chico Flores own goal handed them a 1-0 victory over Lekhwiya in the second leg of the last 16 to advance by the same scoreline on aggregate.
After a goalless draw in the first leg in Tehran last week, Persepolis grabbed a crucial away goal midway through the first half at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium when Vahid Amiri released Mehdi Taremi, whose low ball across goal was diverted into his own net by Flores.
“I am so happy due to the win because we won a big match. I would like to congratulate my players because they did their best in the match against Lekhwiya,” Branko said in the post-match news conference.
“We knew that the match would be a tough game. We showed a good performance and defeated the Qatari team on their home soil. Lekhwiya is one of the best Asian teams,” the Croat added.
“Persepolis is the best Iranian football team at the moment and I believe that we deserved the win,” Branko Ivankovic concluded.
