Iran's Sepahan advances to quarterfinals at Club World Cup

IHT - Emad Mohammed scored two goals in the first five minutes Friday, leading Iran's Sepahan to a 3-1 win over New Zealand's Waitakere United in the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Emad opened the scoring on a header in the third minute and doubled the lead less than a minute later at Tokyo's National Stadium.

"We were the more experienced team," said Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic. "We got two early goals and then the rest of the match was easy."

The Dec. 7-16 Club World Cup features the champions of FIFA's continental club competitions. Italian giant AC Milan, South American champion Boca Juniors of Argentina, African champion Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, CONCACAF champion CF Pachuca of Mexico and Asian winners Urawa Reds are the other clubs participating.

Abdul Wahab Abu Al Hail gave Sepahan a 3-0 lead with a long-range blast in the 47th minute.

Waitakere got one back in the 74th minute when Darren Bazeley's curling free kick from the left side went in off a Sepahan defender.

The goal energized the Kiwis who desperately tried to get back in the match in the final 10 minutes and had several good scoring chances.

Oceania champions Waitakere, an amateur club formed less than three years ago, qualified for the tournament by beating Fijian champions Ba in the O-League final in April.

Friday's result means Sepahan advances to the Dec. 10 quarterfinals to take on Japan's Urawa Reds in a rematch of the final of the AFC Champions League in November, which Urawa won 3-1 on aggregate.

Since Japan's Reds are the current Asian champions, Sepahan, the runner-up in the AFC, are included in the tournament.

Brazil's Internacional beat European powerhouse Barcelona 1-0 in last year's final.

AC Milan and Boca Juniors join the competition at the semifinal phase.