Sepahan silence Saudis

AFC - Last year's AFC Champions League runners-up Sepahan claimed their first win of this year's continental championship on Wednesday as Seyed Mohammad Salehi and Hadi Aghily secured a 2-1 win over Al Ittihad at the Azadi Stadium.

After a goalless first half, Salehi opened the scoring a minute before the hour mark before Aghily doubled the lead with 19 minutes remaining.

Al Ittihad pulled a goal back with two minutes left on the watch through Talal Al Meshal, but it came too late as the two-time AFC Champions League winners lost their 100 percent start to the campaign.

Al Ittihad were without Saud Khariri through suspension after the midfielder picked up his second yellow card of the competition against Syria's Al Ittihad and injured Brazilian striker Magno Alves, who has scored the winning goals in their first two games.

Al Ittihad began the game on top and Sepahan goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi denied Brazilian midfielder Tcheco after 15 minutes, while at the other end Salehi shot straight at Taisir Al Nataif as the home side came into the contest.

After Hossein Kazemi was denied by Al Ittihad goalkeeper Al Nataif, Mahmoud Karimi's close range finish looked to have handed Sepahan the lead but the goal was ruled out for offside seven minutes before the break.

As the first half drew to a close, Al Ittihad's Osama Al Harbi headed over from Abdulrahman Al Qahtani's left wing cross.

The home side should have opened the scoring three minutes after the break when Abdul Wahab Abolheil played a one-two with Karimi, but his well-struck effort from inside the area was beaten away by Al Nataif.

But Sepahan finally struck when Salehi made no mistake from close range after being picked out by Hadi Jafari's inviting cross.

Sepahan continued to dominate and crucially doubled the lead as Ehsan Hajy Safi's cross from the right was headed home by Aghily.

The second goal sparked Al Ittihad into life and the visitors nearly pulled a goal back three minutes later when Adnan Falatah fizzed a shot past the right upright before Guinean striker Alhassane Keita was denied by Mohammadi in the Sepahan goal.

The Saudi league champions continued to push for a way back into the game but were denied with two minutes remaining as Mohammadi produced a stunning reaction save from Keita's shot from inside the area.

However, Mohammadi was beaten just 20 seconds later when former AFC Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari crossed for second half substitute Al Meshal to head home Al Ittihad's consolation.