Foolad out to restore pride

AFCL - Foolad midfielder Adel Kolahkaj has set his sights on ending the club's AFC Champions league campaign with a win despite the Iranian side's poor showing in this year's tournament.

Victory over Syrian side Al Ittihad would move Foolad off the bottom of the standings in Group A and Kolahkaj and his team mates are aiming to pick up only their second win of the competition.

"We all know that winning or losing the game makes no difference for us, but we've still got a great deal of determination to defeat Al Ittihad," said the 21-year-old.

"We can at least make Khuzestan's football fans happy by winning the game. Nothing is clear, but we will undoubtedly try to outplay the Syrians"

Foolad will be without six of their regular starting line-up, with Hossein Kaebi and goalkeeper Ebrahim Mirzapour joining up with the Iran national team for their pre-World Cup training camp in Switzerland.

Mohammad Alavi and Nader Ahmadi are suspended, Meysam Soleimani is injured and Daniel Okechukwu has left the club.

However, coach Nenad Nikolic was upbeat despite the absentees as his side seeks to win their first game since the opening day 6-0 trouncing of Group A leaders Al Qadisiya from Kuwait..

"I actually don't have six of my regular players on hand, due to suspension, injury and attendance in Team Melli," said the Croatian.

"Still, our morale is good and we are keen to defeat Al Ittihad even though we have no chance to go through to the knockout stage."

Al Ittihad, one point above Foolad, go into the game off the back of a 2-1 defeat in the Syrian league to Teshrine.

Yahia Al Rached scored his sides only goal of that game and a draw would be enough for the Syrians to guarantee Ahmed Hawash's side do not finish at the bottom of Group A.