Refai seals it for Syrians

AFCL - Al Karama skipper Abdul Kader Refai converted a first-half free kick as the recently-crowned Syrian champions beat Iran’s Saba Battery 1-0 to become the first team from their country to advance to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League.

The home side were dealt an early blow when in-form striker Ahmad Turkmani had to be taken off after just eight minutes but Refai struck just after the half-hour mark with his third Champions League goal to send Al Karama into the quarter-final draw.

With Saba Battery holding a one-point lead in Group C at the start of play, Al Karama went into their match at a raucous Khaled Ibn Al Waleed Stadium knowing that they needed nothing less than victory to overhaul the Iranian side.

Turkmani thought that he had given his side a dream start when he put the ball into the Saba Battery net after only 40 seconds but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Worse was to follow for the veteran striker as cramp forced him to be replaced by Abdulrahman Al Akari in the eighth minute.

Despite the setback, Karama continued to attack and the home fans were on their feet again five minutes later when Iyad Mando found himself in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Asghar Karamollahi but blasted the ball over the crossbar.

In the 21st minute, defender Hassa Abbas tested Karamollahi with a powerful drive from distance that the Saba Battery ‘keeper punched away for a corner.

Saba Battery offered little threat for much of the opening half but were only denied by the woodwork in the 28th minute when Hossain Yousefi lofted ball from the right slammed against the bar.

Al Karama finally took a deserved lead four minutes later when Jehad Al Hussein was fouled just inches outside the Saba penalty area and Refai beat Karamollahi with a sweetly-struck free kick to send the home fans into raptures.

Saba Battery had an opportunity to restore parity soon afterwards but goalkeeper Mosab Balhous managed to punch away Hossain Yousefi’s corner before it fell to veteran striker Ali Daei.

Close to half-time, Karamollahi came to his side’s rescue once again, as he dived full stretch to keep out Mohamad Al Hamwi’s lovely first-time volley from the edge of the area.

Saba had been on the back foot for much of the opening period but they pressed hard after the break to find a way through the resolute Al Karama defence.

Ten minutes after the restart, Ali Daei had an opportunity to add to his tally of five goals from a free kick but the 37-year-old’s attempt was kept out by the defensive wall.

The Syrians tried to hit their opponents with swift counter-attacks but they lacked the finishing touch in front of Karamollahi’s goal as Mohamad Al Hamwi and Jehad Kassab both wasted chances to make the game safe for the hosts.

The misses would not prove costly though as Balhous and his defence kept the Iranian side at bay, earning Al Karama a place in the last eight of Asia’s premier club competition.