AFC - Saipa boss Ali Daei was
delighted to see his side clinch a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC
Champions League with a game to spare after the Iranian champions edged out
Kuwait Sports Club 1-0 at Enghelab Stadium.
Midfielder Kianoush Rahmati's superb 24th-minute strike settled the contest
in the hosts' favour as they sealed top spot in Group B due to a better
head-to-head record against Al Quwa Al Jawiya.
Mohammad Javad Araghi could have settled the home fans' nerves nine minutes
from time, particularly after throwing away a one-goal lead two weeks ago
against Al Quwa Al Jawiya, but the midfielder hit the woodwork.
But Daei was delighted to prove the doubters wrong and make it through to
the knockout stages.
"When the Asian Champions League started people didn't even give us a five
percent chance of winning the group," he said.
"I want to thank God, the players and our excellent supporters without whom
we wouldn't have got this victory.
"We played with great pride and we beat one of the best teams in West Asia,
although we should have won by more because we had a lot of good chances and
were the better team.
"We're a good team and we're going to get even better."
"I promised to be with Saipa until we finish in the Champions League and it
hasn't finished yet," he added.
"We must now think of the next round and improve our weaknesses so that we
can go even further."
Opposite number Mohammad Abdullah was disappointed to be leaving Iran
empty-handed as he saw his side's Champions League dream come to an end.
Nevertheless, he was proud of KSC's fighting display and believed the margin
between victory and defeat was a fine one.
"We came here to win and we're unhappy that we didn't," he said.
"But we leave with our heads held high because we've shown that no-one can
take us lightly.
"They (Saipa) are physically and technically very strong but I think it was
an even match. The only difference is that they took their chance."
