AFC - Emad Mohammed scored a
late winner as Iranian league leaders Sepahan completed the double against
Al Ittihad with a 1-0 away win over the Saudi side at the Prince Abdullah Al
Faisal Stadium on Wednesday.
The Iraq international striker netted the only goal of the game with 11
minutes remaining to give Sepahan their second straight win in Group A as
they drew level with Al Ittihad on six points, three behind group leaders
Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan.
The defeat compounded the woes of the two-time AFC Champions League winners,
who dismissed coach Estevam Soares earlier this month after failing to
retain the Saudi League title.
The home side, who were looking to end a dismal run of results, had the
better of the early chances and should have taken the lead in the 14th
minute when Mohammed Noor’s cross was headed over by Brazilian striker Magno
Alves.
With newly-installed coach Gabriel Calderon taking charge for the first
time, Al Ittihad continued to exert much of the pressure and went close
again as a shot by Magno Alves in the 31st minute went just past the left
upright while Saud Khariri’s effort two minutes later was well saved by
goalkeeper Masoud Hamami.
The best chance of the half though fell to Sepahan in the 39th minute when
Farshad Bahadorani took the ball into the box from the left flank and curled
in a shot that came back off the far post.
Al Ittihad suffered a huge blow shortly afterwards as Magno Alves limped off
the pitch and was replaced by midfielder Mohammed Ameen but they could still
have taken the lead into the half-time break when Guinean striker Alhassane
Keita broke through with only the goalkeeper to beat but was denied by
Hamami’s legs.
Sepahan picked up their game in the second half and had a good chance nine
minutes after the interval as a tight-angled effort by Salehi was turned out
by Mabrouk Zaid for a corner.
Al Ittihad could still have gone ahead in the 56th minute when Mohammed
Ameen’s pass went across the face of the Sepahan goal with Brazilian
midfielder Tcheco just failing to apply the final touch.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 79th minute when Salehi’s long ball
from the back found Emad Mohammed who fired a first-time shot past
goalkeeper Zaid for the only goal of the game.
