AFC - Iran’s AFC Champions
League strugglers Sepahan received a jolt two days ahead of their Group A
match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad when their star striker Mahmoud
Karimi was ruled out for the rest of the season due to an eye injury.
Karimi, who scored in the first leg of their AFC Champions League 2007 final
against Urawa Reds, was injured during an Iran Pro League match against Mes
on Friday when a Rasoul Mirtoroghi shot from close range hit his face and
seriously injured his left eye capillary.
Sepahan’s physician Rabiee told the Mehr news agency: “His eye was
intensively injured and he will undergo a surgery but he needs a recovery
period which would take until the end of the season.”
Sepahan coach Jorvan Vieira will have to look for another option before
flying out to Jeddah for the return fixture against the Saudi Arabian giants
Al Ittihad on April 23.
The Isfahan-based side is languishing at the bottom of the group with three
points, three less than Uzbekistan’s Kuruvchi and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad.
