AFC - Iran Pro League
champions Saipa scored a goal in each half to defeat Al Wasl 2-0 in their
second Group B match of the AFC Champions League at Enghelab Stadium on
Wednesday.
Saipa took the lead in the last minute of the first half through Malian
midfielder Issa Traore before Karim Ansarifar sealed the win after 57
minutes.
The hosts made a good start to the game and should have gone ahead in the
11th minute when Milad Zandipour's 30-yard free-kick was punched clear by Al
Wasl goalkeeper Majed Naser.
Al Wasl then nearly made the breakthrough after 20 minutes when a long pass
from Essa Ali found Brazilian striker Alexandre Oliveira, who cut inside the
area from the right before firing a powerful shot just wide of the post.
However, it was Saipa who took the lead just before the break when a crossf
rom Milad Zandipour was cleared by Al Wasl defender Abdulla Essa but only as
far as Traore, who made no mistake from close range.
Saipa continued their dominance in the second half and nearly doubled their
advantage after 52 minutes when Ansarifar fired home a powerful shot from
inside the box, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
But Ansarifar was not to be denied five minutes later when he ran on to
along pass from the back before firing a powerful right-foot shot beyond the
Al Wasl keeper.
Saipa thought that they had scored a third goal on the hour mark when Traore
cut inside the area and struck a powerful shot that went beyond Naser but
the ball was cleared off the line by Tariq Darwish.
The visitors should have pulled a goal back after 76 minutes when
second-half substitute Mohamed Salem Al Enazi capitalised on a loose
ballbefore passing to Alexander Oliveira, but the Brazilian striker's effort
was saved by Saipa goalkeeper Misagh Esfahani.
Saipa had another chance with six minutes remaining but Majid Ayyoubi's shot
was pushed behind for a corner by Naser just one minute before Amir Vaziri
diverted a cross from Omid Sharifi into the Al Wasl net but the goal was
ruled out for offside.
Al Wasl had one final chance to pull a goal back a minute before the end
when Al Enazi hit a powerful shot from outside the area but was denied by
the crossbar.
