Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Sadd registered their first win of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite as they beat Esteghlal FC of Iran 2-0 in the second round of their West Zone clash at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Monday.
While goalkeeper Hossein Hoosseini conceded an own goal in the 40th minute, Akram Afif scored the next for Al Sadd in the 68th minute through a penalty strike.
The Wolves’ win comes after their fighting 1-1 draw against Al Ain of the UAE in away game on September 16, 2024.
The win takes Al Sadd’s tally to 4 points from their first two games in the league phase while Esteghlal remain on 3 points following their opening round victory over Al Gharafa.
Al Sadd were a bit subdued at the start in front of their home fans, and in the 12th minute goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham had to ‘fly’ to keep a challenging kick from Esteghlal’s Blanco Leschuk away.
The hosts soon found momentum to their attack and kept pushing the visitors hard but lacked in their finishing.
In the 33rd minute of the match, a Rafa Mujica kick for Al Sadd hit the right post.
Al Sadd’s consistent pressure finally produced results as an Afif corner kick was punched into his own goal by Estgehlal goalkeeper Hosseini who had jump high to get to the ball.
Esteghlal then tried to retaliate but an Iman Salimi header from the centre of the box was saved by Barsham in the bottom right corner.
Early in the second half, Al Sadd made two fast breaks but on both occasions they failed to beat the rival goalkeeper much to the dismay of their coach Felix Sanchez.
Soon, Afif made a rollicking charge and seemed headed to strike when Esteghlal’s Roozbeh Cheshmi brought the Al Sadd player down with a foul tackle. And the referee signaled for the spot while flashing the yellow card against Cheshmi.
Afif converted from the spot as Al Sadd went up 2-0.
Later towards the end, Afif again unleased a powerful kick which just missed the top right corner of the right post.
Al Sadd will next play Iranian side Persepolis FC in another home match on October 21.
The AFC Champions League Elite draw has the clubs being divided into two groups of 12 teams in the East and West Zones.
The group stage will be held from September 16 to February 19, 2025, and each team will face eight different sides from its zone with four matches at home and as many away.
The best eight clubs will qualify for the Round of 16 and then the quarterfinals in Saudi Arabia from April 25 to May 4, 2025.
