PLDC – Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand says saving Xavi Hernandez’s header is more enjoyable than the Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty he saved in the 2018 World Cup.
Persepolis qualified for the AFC Champions League final match for the first time after 1-1 draw against star-studded Al Sadd in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, 2-1 on aggregate.
The game remained on a knife edge as the game entered its final 10 minutes and Xavi could have sent Al Sadd into the final, only to see his header tipped over the bar from a world-class save from Beiranvand.
“Really, I don’t know what to say. It was a great work we did. I think I saved the Xavi’s header due to the Iranian people’s prayers,” Beiranvand said.
“I am very happy to stay at Persepolis despite offers I received. Now, we are in the final and in my opinion to become runner-up is equal to elimination and we want to win the title. The Iranian people just want championship. Thanks a lot to Branko Ivankovic. We lost several of our players in the summer but Ivankovic led us to the final with empty hands,” he added.
Beiranvand saved a penalty from Ronaldo to deny Portugal a 2-0 lead in the final Group B fixture at the 2018 World Cup.
“I think to save Xavi’s header is more enjoyable than Ronaldo’s penalty. I helped Persepolis with millions of fans reach final with this save,” Beiranvand said.